Argentina’s celebrations after its dramatic World Cup semi final victory over England have come under review after players displayed a political banner supporting the country’s claim to the Falkland Islands.
The world football governing body confirmed that it is examining official match reports before deciding whether disciplinary action is necessary under its regulations.
Argentina Celebrates With Political Banner
Argentina secured a thrilling 2 to 1 comeback victory over England in Atlanta. The defending world champions scored twice late in the match to earn a place in Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain.
After the final whistle, several Argentina players held up a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas,” which translates to “The Falklands are Argentine.”
The display quickly attracted international attention because the Falkland Islands remain the subject of a long standing sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom.
FIFA Begins Review Process
FIFA stated that its independent disciplinary committee is reviewing the official match reports and other relevant circumstances before making any decision.
The organization explained that this is the normal process whenever incidents during or after matches may involve possible breaches of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
At this stage, FIFA has not announced whether Argentina or its football association will face any punishment.
Similar Incident Happened Before
This is not the first time Argentina has faced scrutiny over the same message.
In 2014, FIFA fined the Argentine Football Association £20,000 after the national team displayed an identical banner before an international friendly against Slovenia.
At that time, FIFA ruled that the display violated its regulations on political messages and team conduct during football events.
Decision Still Pending
FIFA will continue reviewing all available information before reaching a final decision. The outcome could determine whether Argentina receives another disciplinary sanction for displaying a political message during an official tournament.
Meanwhile, Argentina will shift its attention to the World Cup final against Spain while waiting for FIFA’s verdict.
