Fifa has opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina over the Falklands Islands banner displayed by several players after their World Cup semi-final win over England in Atlanta.
- Argentina players displayed Las Malvinas son Argentinas, referencing the Falklands dispute and the 1982 war that killed over 900 people.
- Fifa rules prohibit non-sporting demonstrations; the banner sparked political debate, with comments from Keir Starmer and Andrew Giuliani.
- The full charge sheet cites discriminatory chants, late kick-offs, security protocol failures, inappropriate messages, and the throwing of objects by spectators.
- Leandro Paredes faces three assault counts; Nahuel Molina faces two assault counts and one unsporting; others, including Ayala, Almada, and Gavi, are charged.
As Argentina celebrated reaching the World Cup final with their dramatic 2-1 over Thomas Tuchel’s side, several players displayed a sign proclaiming “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” – the Malvinas are Argentinian – in reference to the British overseas territory. The dispute over the islands led to a 74-day conflict in 1982, during which more than 900 people – 649 Argentinians and 255 Britons – lost their lives.
Fifa’s disciplinary code prohibits “using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature” and the banner prompted political debate on both sides of the Atlantic. A spokesperson for the then UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, said: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are,” while Andrew Giuliani, the head of the White House Fifa taskforce, defended Argentina’s players, saying the US believed in free speech.
Fifa’s full charge sheet against the Argentinian Football Association also includes “discriminatory chants and gestures, late kick-offs, failure to comply with match and security protocols, the display of inappropriate messages by the team and spectators and the throwing of objects by spectators in relation to several matches.”
Several players are also under investigation in relation to the chaotic scenes that followed Argentina’s 1-0 extra-time defeat by Spain in the final. As Spain attempted to celebrate, several altercations broke out across the pitch at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
The Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes faces three counts of assault under the Fifa disciplinary code, while the defender Nahuel Molina faces two counts of assault (one completed and one attempted) and one count of unsporting behaviour.
The assistant coach Roberto Ayala faces one count of assault, and Thiago Almada, an unused substitute in the final, one count of unsporting behaviour. Spain’s Gavi also faces an unsporting behaviour charge.
“In accordance with the Fifa Disciplinary Code, the respondents have now been provided with the opportunity to present their position, following which a decision will be issued by the Fifa Disciplinary Committee in due course,” said Fifa in a statement.
