Leandro Paredes' sister Barbara has weighed in on the Falkland Islands row after Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain, provocatively declaring the islands belong to her nation.
Paredes' Behaviour in Final
Paredes was criticized for his conduct in the final, escaping a red card before sparking a mass brawl by targeting Spain midfielder Gavi, one of the smallest players on the pitch.
Falklands Controversy
The row over whether Argentina or England controls the South Atlantic territory became a hot topic ahead of their semi-final showdown. After Argentina's 2-1 win over England, players unveiled a banner reading "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas" ("The Falklands belong to Argentina").
Following the Spain loss, Barbara told reporters: "We’re all delighted, but to be honest we didn’t expect to get this far, and having made it this far and come out on top against England – for us, that meant the world. We may not have the third or fourth star, but we’ve got the Falklands all to ourselves."
UK Government Response
The UK government responded: "The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are."
The islands have been a British territory since 1833, and an island-wide referendum in 2013 saw 99.8 per cent of Falkland Islanders vote to stay British.
Paredes' Statement
Despite his conduct, Paredes focused on their tournament run in his statement after the final, saying: "Thank you, Argentina! I love you today and always. Today, I write with a heavy heart, having been unable to bring our country the joy it so richly deserves. But with a chest full of pride for having given everything we had and for flying our flag at the very top once again!"
His mother, Myriam Benitez, also addressed the furore at Ezeiza airport, stating: "We never disrespect anyone. Respect always, I think that's everything that motivates us and gets us to where we really want to go."
