Following their triumph against England, Argentina’s players showcased a banner proclaiming “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, a nod to the 1982 conflict over the disputed territory.
In a dramatic semi-final match in Atlanta, Argentina found themselves trailing 1-0 with just five minutes remaining. However, they mounted a stunning comeback, scoring twice in quick succession to secure a place in the World Cup final for the second consecutive time, where they will face Spain in New Jersey this Sunday.
This banner references the territorial dispute known as the Falklands in Britain and Islas Malvinas in Argentina, which triggered a 74-day confrontation 44 years ago, resulting in the deaths of over 900 individuals, including 649 Argentinians and 255 Britons.
Lisandro Martínez and Giovani Lo Celso proudly displayed the banner while smiling and waving at fans. The origin of the banner remains unknown. This incident is not the first instance of political banners appearing during the World Cup; last month in Los Angeles, Iranian Americans displayed pre-revolutionary flags as a form of protest during matches involving Iran, which proceeded without incident.
After their quarter-final victory over Switzerland, some Argentine players were overheard chanting.
“For the Malvinas, for Diego [Maradona] and for Leo [Messi]’s last one.”
Rodrigo De Paul, an Argentine midfielder, commented.
“We understand it’s a football game that transcends; it brings back memories of what Diego did. We sing songs about our Malvinas heroes, mainly to remember them, but we have to understand that it’s a football match and that the Malvinas have to be discussed elsewhere. What happened was an atrocity and we always remember the fallen, but what we want is to win this match to get to the final.”
FIFA’s stadium regulations prohibit “banners, flags, flyers, apparel and other paraphernalia that are of a political, offensive, and/or discriminatory nature” within stadiums. FIFA has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding this matter.
On Tuesday, Argentina’s security minister, Alejandra Monteoliva, indicated that enhanced security measures had been discussed during a recent meeting in the United States. “There will be 1,600 officers. We want the celebration to be peaceful,” she explained in a local radio interview. “The entry of elements that have any type of provocative message, whether of political or racial content, is prohibited.”
