England and Argentina met in Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal with an extensive history that extends beyond the pitch.
The two nations engaged in the Falklands War in 1982 as part of a centuries-old dispute over islands off the southern Argentina coast. The 74-day conflict came at the cost of the lives of 649 Argentines and 255 British soldiers. Three people from the islands also died.
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Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni downplayed the connection and declined to tie the conflict to the game before Wednesday, declaring: “mixing the two would be crazy.” But once Argentina completed a dramatic 2-1 comeback to secure its place in the semifinals, it became a centerpiece of the players’ celebration.
Fans in the stands at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium initially held a banner reading “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas.” “Las Malvinas” is what Argentina calls the islands. The banner translates to “The Malvinas are Argentine.”
When the game was done, several players had gained possession of the banner and unfurled it on the field. Per the Athletic, midfielder Giovani Lo Celso appeared to initially unfurl it and held it with defender Nicolás Otamendi.
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By the time Argentina took the celebration to the baseline to join the fans in the Argentine section, virtually the entire team stood behind the banner.
Argentina’s postgame celebration could end up drawing the ire of FIFA and sanctions for La Albiceleste.
(Ian MacNicol via Getty Images)
Players danced with the banner as the celebration continued.
Celebration could draw FIFA sanctions
The Athletic points out that this could result in sanctions for Argentina. The International Football Association Board and FIFA prohibit players and teams from displaying political messaging during games.
From FIFA’s stadium code of conduct, in addressing prohibited messaging:
“Any materials, including but not limited to banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature, containing wording, symbols or any other attributes aimed at discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group on account of race, skin colour, ethnicity, national or social origin, gender identity and expression, disability, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, birth, wealth or any other status, sexual orientation or on any other grounds.”
From the IFAB rulebook:
“Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images. Players must not reveal undergarments that show political, religious, personal slogans, statements or images, or advertising other than the manufacturer’s logo.
“For any offence the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by FIFA.”
What the sanctions would be, if any, are unclear in the immediate aftermath of the game. FIFA had not addressed the banner’s display as of Wednesday evening. Argentina is next scheduled to play Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final. Any sanctions that would impact that game would constitute a drastic step.
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A fine is the more likely scenario and one with precedent. FIFA fined the Argentine Football Association £20,000 in 2014 when players held up a similar banner ahead of a 2014 friendly vs. Slovenia.
Argentina will take on Spain at 3 p.m. ET (Fox, Telemundo) on Sunday in search of a repeat World Cup championship and its fourth overall. Spain will be seeking its second World Cup title after winning its first in 2010.
