Argentine football club Tigre reignited the Falkland Islands controversy after a Copa Sudamericana playoff victory on Tuesday night. Following a 3-0 win over Uruguay's Nacional, players unfurled a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" (The Falklands are Argentine) and chanted "He who doesn't jump is an Englishman."
Banner and Chant After Victory
The banner, identical to one displayed by Argentina's national team after their World Cup semi-final win over England, was held up as players celebrated with fans. The chant has been popular among Argentine football supporters since the Falklands War over four decades ago.
Pre-Match Tribute
Before the match, Tigres players posed for an official team photo alongside a banner thanking the Argentina national team for their World Cup efforts. It read: "Champions are those who never give up. Thank you, national team."
Falklands Sovereignty Dispute
The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands became a major talking point after England's defeat to Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals. The two countries went to war in 1982 after Argentina launched a surprise invasion. British forces recaptured the islands in 10 weeks, forcing Argentina to surrender. Many in Argentina still claim the islands, despite a 2013 referendum where only three of over 1,500 residents voted to cut ties with Britain. Argentina rejected the result as a 'parody'.
Falklands Government Response
After the World Cup semi-final, the Falkland Islands government released a statement saying they were "disappointed, though regrettably not surprised" by the Argentine team's behavior. They called the banner "particularly insensitive" and hoped FIFA would sanction such political gestures. FIFA has yet to punish Argentina despite rules prohibiting political messages in stadiums.
