Lorraine Kelly has issued a furious statement after Argentina players unfurled a banner reading 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas' (The Falklands are Argentinian) following their 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory over England on Wednesday night. The ITV host called the display 'shameful' and demanded FIFA take action.
Lorraine Kelly's Reaction
In an Instagram post, Kelly fumed: 'SHAMEFUL!! FIFA should throw the book at them. What an insult to the Falkland Islanders and to all our brave British armed forces who fought in the Falklands War. I hope Spain give them a right humping in the final.' Her comments drew widespread support from followers, with one saying 'They should be disqualified for this' and another adding 'If FIFA don’t take action regarding this then it’s clear that the game is rigged.'
FIFA and Government Response
FIFA confirmed its independent disciplinary committee is assessing the incident. A spokesperson said: 'As is standard procedure, Fifa's independent disciplinary committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the Fifa disciplinary code.' Downing Street also backed calls for investigation, with a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer stating: 'The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.'
Falkland Islands Government Reaction
The Falkland Islands government expressed disappointment, hoping FIFA would 'sanction all behaviour of this nature in line with its own rules' and adding 'we do not wish to see politics being brought into sport.' The territory, a British overseas territory 300 miles off Argentina's coast, has been the subject of a decades-long dispute, with Argentina going to war in 1982 before surrendering to British forces.
Previous Incidents
This is not the first time Argentina players have displayed such a banner. After a 2014 match, the team was fined £20,000 for a similar stunt. The latest incident has sparked outrage among fans and officials, with warnings of a possible fine. Lionel Messi will now lead Argentina into their third World Cup final against Spain on Sunday.
