The White House has backed Argentina following a row over their claim to the Falkland Islands during the World Cup. Andrew Giuliani, head of Donald Trump’s FIFA task force, defended the team’s right to free speech after they waved a banner reading “The Malvinas are Argentine” following their victory over England in Wednesday’s semi-final.
Falklands Sovereignty Dispute
The Falklands, a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, has been the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina for decades. Argentina players also sang chants referencing the Falklands after their 3-2 win over Egypt in the last 16.
Speaking to the press in Washington, Mr Giuliani said: “We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America. And in terms of the ability, the opportunity to be able to make statements, (Argentina) has the ability to do that in the United States of America.”
Potential FIFA Disciplinary Action
Argentina could still face disciplinary action from FIFA over the incident, which may breach rules on political statements. A FIFA spokesman said: “As is standard procedure, FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”
Downing Street has backed calls for an investigation, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Business Secretary Peter Kyle both speaking out against the banner. An official spokesperson for Sir Keir said: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.” When asked who Starmer would support in Sunday’s final, the spokesman added: “The PM wishes both teams well for the final, especially Spain.”
UK and Falklands Government Reactions
Mr Kyle told the BBC that the banner was “an egregious violation of the rules of not having political activity as part of the football”. The government of the Falkland Islands said it was “disappointed but not surprised” about the banner and hopes FIFA will “sanction all behaviour of this nature in line with its own rules”. A statement read: “We do not wish to see politics being brought into sport. Nor do we wish the Islands and their people to be used as a political football in every conversation about England and Argentina.”
The people of the Falkland Islands voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory in 2013 — 1,513 of 1,517 votes were in favour, with a turnout of more than 90 per cent.
Argentinian President’s Response
Argentinian president Javier Milei wrote on X: “While some are busy throwing tantrums befitting a terminally mononeuronal teenager, we, through the diplomatic route, are getting closer every day to the recovery of the Malvinas Islands, Georgias del Sur and the South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime space.” More than 900 people died after a war broke out between Britain and Argentina over the territory in 1982. The British military ejected Argentine forces, who had landed on the islands to stake a territorial claim.
