Seven people were arrested in London after England dramatically lost to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final. Met Police officers made one arrest for driving while unfit through drink or drugs and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Another person was detained for assaulting an emergency worker after the match, which England lost 2-1. There were four arrests for affray and one for racially aggravated assault.
Peaceful Protests Compared to Previous Violence
The nation’s loss and disappointment at the World Cup exit for Harry Kane’s team was far more peaceful in the capital than the violence that erupted among Morocco fans a week ago after their team was dumped out of the tournament by France. One police officer was knocked unconscious after being hit by a glass bottle during clashes on the Edgware Road in north London.
A TikTok prankster wearing an Argentina football top was rescued on Wednesday night by police from a huge crowd of England supporters in Piccadilly Circus after the Three Lions were defeated. Ahead of the game, police in Britain had appealed to fans to behave. With incidents of domestic violence tending to rise linked to major sporting events, Scotland Yard also urged victims to report such offences.
Clashes in Atlanta and Political Tensions
In Atlanta, Georgia, there were clashes around the stadium between England and Argentina fans after the match. On the eve of the game, fights also erupted between rival groups of Argentinian supporters. Atlanta police had deployed more officers onto the streets for what was assessed to be a “high risk” game given the past tensions between the two nations, which centre on the Falkland Islands conflict of 1982. The Argentinian military regime launched an invasion of the islands and the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent a huge Royal Navy task force to the South Atlantic to recapture them in a humiliating defeat for Buenos Aires.
Argentinian players sparked a huge storm after the game by brandishing a banner that read ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ which translates to ‘The Falkland Islands are Argentinian’. Sir Keir Starmer condemned the move, with Downing Street saying: “The World Cup might not be ours but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our position is unchanged. Self-determination rests with the islanders. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.” The Government urged FIFA to launch an inquiry, with the Argentinian players involved in the political stunt facing a possible threat of being banned from the World Cup final.
