Downing Street has thrown its weight behind demands for FIFA to investigate Argentina’s players after they displayed a banner supporting their country’s claim to the Falkland Islands during their World Cup celebrations.
A spokeswoman backed comments from UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle, who urged football’s governing body to “thoroughly” examine the defending champions’ conduct following their 2-1 victory over England in Atlanta last night.
“The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are,” a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
“Our position is unchanged. Self-determination rests with the islanders.
While the official stressed that any possible sanction is a “matter for FIFA”, she was asked whether the Prime Minister shared his Cabinet minister’s call for an inquiry and replied: “I would echo that position.”
Pressed on whether Downing Street accepted Mr Kyle’s description of the incident as an “egregious violation” of tournament rules, she said: “Any action taken is a matter for FIFA, I’ll leave it for them.
“I’d point you to the Business Secretary’s words this morning.”
Argentina supporters erupted in celebration after the final whistle, with fans close to the pitch carrying a banner bearing the words “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — translated as “The Falkland Islands are Argentinian”.
The banner, invoking the long-running dispute over the British overseas territory, was eventually passed to the players, who raised it while celebrating their victory.
The team could now face disciplinary proceedings under Article 34.3 of the tournament’s rules, which bars players from displaying political messages or slogans before, during or after matches.
‘Politics needs to be separate from football’
Questioned on BBC Breakfast about members of the squad waving the banner, Mr Kyle said: “My reaction is that it was entirely inappropriate.
“Politics needs to be separate from football.
“In fact, the World Cup has one of its central tenets that politics is separate from football.”
He continued: “We expect FIFA to undertake an investigation into this.
“I think it was certain to happen because it was such an egregious violation of the rules of not having political activity as part of the football.”
Speaking separately to Times Radio, the minister applauded Thomas Tuchel’s team for showing “dignity”, saying their response offered a “perfect contrast” to the conduct of Argentina’s players.
The question of sovereignty has strained relations between Argentina and Britain for decades, culminating in the brief but bloody Falklands War in 1982.
‘Our position is unchanged. Self-determination rests with the islanders,’ a spokeswoman said
Buenos Aires continues to assert sovereignty over the islands, located roughly 13,000km from the UK and 480km from the Argentine mainland.
Islanders voted overwhelmingly in 2013 to retain their status as a British overseas territory, although Argentine foreign minister Pablo Quirno has argued that the referendum lacked legitimacy.
In the days before the semi-final, Mr Quirno wrote in Argentina’s La Nacion newspaper that the islands’ population had been “artificially implanted by the occupying power”, a claim Downing Street rejected outright.
Argentina has also filed a diplomatic protest with the UK over what it described as the “unlawful” movement of a Royal Navy patrol vessel near the South Atlantic archipelago.
In a formal statement posted on X after the semi-final, Argentina’s foreign affairs ministry voiced its “strongest rejection” of HMS Medway’s movements and accused Britain of carrying out a “military incursion” into its waters.
No 10 said British officials had notified Argentina in advance about the routine logistics visit, adding that the Royal Navy “always operates in full compliance with international law”.
Before the match, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni had insisted he did not want the fixture to be overshadowed by the territorial dispute.
However, Argentina’s vice-president Victoria Villarruel posted a message after the final whistle declaring that “it wasn’t just another match”, accompanied by footage that appeared to show Argentinian soldiers.
Ahead of the game, she had also referred to England as “invaders” and “usurping pirates”.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey demanded that the Argentina players involved in the banner celebration be suspended from the World Cup final.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also responded on X, writing: “The Falkland Islands are British.
“The Conservatives will always defend them.”
