Argentina Players Spark Controversy with Banner After Knocki

Argentina players sparked outrage by unfurling a banner claiming the Falkland Islands after they knocked England out of the World Cup 2-1 in a nail-biting semi-final clash. The banner, which used the Argentinian name for the Falklands – Las Malvinas, was held by members of the crowd and star player Lionel Messi was also seen dancing alongside it.

The incident is likely to be reported to footballing authorities, and Argentina could face disciplinary action, including the prospect of a fine. This is not the first time Argentinian players have displayed slogans about the Falkland Islands, despite FIFA's ban on flags referencing the islands due to their political significance. In 2014, the Argentine Football Association was fined just £20,000 after its team displayed an almost identical 'Las Malvinas Son Argentinas' banner before a friendly against Slovenia.

The Falklands dispute has been a major talking point in the build-up to the World Cup, with tension between Argentina and the UK dating back to the 1982 war. The war saw 649 Argentinians and 255 British servicemen die, as well as three islanders. Argentina's vice-president, Victoria Villarruel, had also branded England as 'usurping pirates' in the run-up to the match, and posted on X that 'it wasn't just another match' alongside a video of what appeared to be Argentine soldiers. 'The Falklands are Argentine,' she wrote. 'They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.'

The Falkland Islands have been under British rule since 1833, and a 2013 ballot saw 99.8 per cent of the islanders vote to remain under British rule. However, Argentina's president, Pablo Quirno, has claimed that the people living on the islands were 'artificially implanted' and that a referendum on British sovereignty was illegitimate. The controversy surrounding the Falklands has spilled over into football, with Maradona's infamous 'hand of God' goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final clash still remembered today.

Argentina's players, including Cristian Romero, Giovani Lo Celso, and Manchester United player Lisandro Martinez, were seen celebrating on the pitch with the banner after the final whistle blew. The incident is likely to dominate the headlines in the coming days, and may lead to further tensions between Argentina and the UK. As the two teams prepare to face off in the World Cup final on Sunday, the controversy surrounding the Falklands is likely to continue to simmer in the background.

Source: Daily Mail