Argentina players celebrated their 2-1 semifinal victory over England at the World Cup in Atlanta by holding up a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," which translates as "The Falklands are Argentine." The display drew immediate condemnation from the UK government and could lead to FIFA sanctions.
The UK government's response was pointed. Downing Street said the prime minister wished both Argentina and Spain well for the final, "especially Spain." The prime minister's official spokeswoman added: "Our position is unchanged, self-determination rests with the islanders and our commitment to the Falklands will never waver."
The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean and have been at the center of a long-running sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina. The two countries fought a 74-day war over the territory in 1982. A British military task force ejected Argentine forces who had occupied the islands. The conflict killed 255 British military personnel, three islanders, and 649 Argentine soldiers.
In 2013, residents of the Falklands voted on whether to remain a UK overseas territory. Of 1,517 votes cast over two days, with a turnout above 90 percent, 1,513 were in favor and just three were against, according to BBC News.
In the House of Commons, Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty said: "We have absolutely no doubt about our sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and the surrounding maritime areas. The Falkland Islands are British, they remain British and they will continue to be British and Falkland Islanders want to be British and they have explained that many, many times."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for the Argentina players who displayed the banner to be barred from the final. Liberal Democrat MP Al Pinkerton condemned what he called "disgraceful scenes" in Atlanta and said "football was used as a platform to challenge the democratic right of Falkland Islanders to determine their own future."
The episode drew comparisons to an earlier incident involving Spain. Players Alvaro Morata and Rodri were banned for one game by UEFA after chanting "Gibraltar is Spanish" during Spain's European Championship celebrations.
Argentina's potential discipline is now a matter for FIFA. The governing body has not yet announced whether it will open proceedings before the final.
