Gary Lineker has doubled down on comments he made about the Falkland Islands, insisting it is “factually correct” to refer to the territory by both its English and Argentinian names. The former England footballer provoked anger by calling the sovereign British territory “the Falkland Islands or Las Malvinas” during a podcast appearance.
Lineker defends his remarks
Speaking on The News Agents podcast, Lineker said: “I've said it 100 times over the years. I don't see why that is an issue really.” He added: “That's what they call it in Argentina, Islas Malvinas. So, it's just a factually correct term. We call it the Falklands, but it's okay, isn't it? We can be diplomatic enough to do that, I'm sure.”
The comments came hours after both England and Argentina secured quarter-final victories, setting up a World Cup semi-final clash in Atlanta. Lineker, currently in the United States presenting The Rest is Football, claimed he was largely unaware of the controversy until informed by the podcast hosts.
Veterans react with anger
Simon Weston, who was severely injured during the 1982 Falklands conflict in which 255 British military personnel died, told GB News: “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.” He added: “I do take umbrage about the fact that this will be unsettling that there's any acceptance of the Argentinian phraseology of the islands.”
The Falkland Islands were the subject of a 74-day conflict between the UK and Argentina in 1982. Despite the war, the islands remain fiercely contested, though the inhabitants overwhelmingly support remaining part of Britain.
Lineker dismisses backlash
Lineker, a former Barcelona striker, said he cannot “get my head around any wars and there's so many going on in the world at the moment that we should probably focus on a little bit more than the Falklands 40 odd years ago.” He suggested the rivalry with Argentina is now more about football: “I honestly think they want to beat us because they want to win the World Cup, and I think we want to beat them because we want to win the World Cup, not to prove some point 40 odd years on.”
When asked if he was surprised by the reaction, Lineker replied: “Until you just told me, I had no idea there was a reaction… I've said it 100 times over the years. I don't see why that is an issue really. People look for something when there's nothing there sometimes. I think we all know that.”
