Argentina players sparked fury after holding a banner reading 'Las Malvinas son Argentina' (The Malvinas belong to Argentina) following their 2-1 World Cup semi-final win against England in Atlanta. The politically charged act came despite coach Lionel Scaloni's pre-match pledge to keep politics out of football.
Match Turns Heated
England took the lead through Anthony Gordon 10 minutes into the second half after a goalless first half. But Enzo Fernandez equalised in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martinez scored the winner in the 92nd minute, ending England's hopes of ending 60 years of World Cup hurt. The match saw fights and clashes on the pitch between the two nations.
Political Banner Stirs Controversy
Several Argentine players paraded around the pitch carrying a banner that translated to 'The Malvinas (Falkland Islands) belong to Argentina'. Argentina disputes British sovereignty over the islands and refers to them as Las Malvinas. Political tensions over the territory boiled over into conflict in 1982.
The Falkland Islands were uninhabited until first claimed by the British in 1765. In 2013, a referendum saw islanders vote overwhelmingly to remain a UK overseas territory.
Scaloni's Words Ignored
Before the match, coach Scaloni said: 'The reality is that this is a football match. I can't mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago. It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn't much we can do about it, that's the reality.'
However, Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel turned the buildup political, stating: 'This is not just another match. I'm not going to be politically correct - against the English, it's always something more.' She added: 'Long live Argentina! Because until our very last breath, we will reclaim what is ours.'
