Falklands war veteran Simon Weston has criticised former England footballer Gary Lineker for using the Argentine term 'Malvinas' to refer to the Falkland Islands during a podcast. Speaking on GB News, Weston said Lineker should 'learn the history' and that using the Argentine phraseology was 'unsettling'.
Lineker's Podcast Comment Sparks Controversy
On his podcast The Rest is Football, Lineker discussed a potential World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina, saying: 'It's not that long ago our two countries were at war, with the Falklands or Malvinas, even before that?' His use of both terms drew immediate backlash.
Weston, who was severely burned during the 1982 conflict, said: 'If you want to talk about the islands, learn the history, learn the actual facts. It's never been Argentinian. The Argentinians can call it what they like.'
Veteran Questions Lineker's Motives
When asked if Lineker made the comment for publicity, Weston responded: 'I was paid to do a job, as was everybody else who was sent there. We weren't paid for our opinion about it then. Afterwards, we were entitled to our opinion about what we did. Why he was saying it, I don't really know.'
Historical Context of the Falklands Dispute
The Falkland Islands, located about 300 miles east of Patagonia, have been claimed by France, Britain, Spain, and Argentina over their turbulent history. Argentina asserts sovereignty based on succession from Spanish rule, while Britain's claim dates to 1765.
In 1982, an undeclared war broke out after Argentina invaded the British-controlled islands. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher dispatched a naval task force, and after 74 days of conflict, Argentina surrendered on June 14. The war resulted in 649 Argentine military deaths, 255 British military deaths, and three civilian Falkland Islander deaths.
