Piers Morgan led celebrity criticism after Argentina players displayed a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" (The Malvinas belong to Argentina) following their 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory over England in Atlanta. The presenter branded the footballers "classless pr*cks" on X, formerly Twitter, adding: "I hope Spain beat them as badly in the Final as we beat them in the Falklands War."
Lorraine Kelly and UK officials condemn the act
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly also condemned the players, calling their actions "SHAMEFUL!!" on Instagram. She urged FIFA to "throw the book at them," describing the banner as an insult to Falkland Islanders and British armed forces who fought in the 1982 Falklands War. Senior minister Peter Kyle slammed the behaviour, with the UK government calling for an investigation into what it termed an "egregious violation of the rules" against political messaging in stadiums.
FIFA rules and potential sanctions
Article 34.3 of FIFA's tournament rules prohibits political messages or slogans by players before, during, or after matches. Argentina could face sanctions for the banner, which was held up by several players in front of cheering fans. Tensions between Argentina and Great Britain over the Falkland Islands remain high, with Buenos Aires repeatedly claiming sovereignty since the 1982 war.
A Downing Street spokeswoman stated: "The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our position is unchanged, and self-determination rests with the islanders. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waiver." She added that potential action is a matter for FIFA, and that Prime Minister Thomas Tuchel's team had represented England wonderfully both on and off the pitch.
Political tensions escalate
Argentina's Vice President Victoria Villarruel, whose father fought in the Falklands War, stoked tensions by sharing a picture of the banner on social media, declaring the islands "are Argentine." Ahead of the match, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni had said he would "not mix" politics and football, but the players' actions contradicted that stance.
