The White House has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Argentina's 'The Malvinas are Argentine' banner displayed at the Men's World Cup semi-final against England. Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House FIFA task force, stated that the United States supports Argentina's right to make such statements, citing First Amendment rights.
Banner Display and Reaction
Argentina's midfielder Giovani Lo Celso held up the banner on the pitch after Argentina's 2-1 victory over England. The banner, which translates to 'The Falkland Islands are Argentinian,' sparked calls for an investigation by FIFA, which bans political messaging at the World Cup.
White House Position
Andrew 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.' Despite FIFA rules, the final is set for Sunday, July 19, making it unlikely that any investigation would conclude before the match.
Previous Incidents and FIFA Response
The Argentine Football Association was previously fined £20,000 by FIFA in 2014 after players posed behind a similar sign. 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.'
UK Government Reaction
The UK and Argentina fought a war over the Falkland Islands from April to June 1982, resulting in hundreds of deaths. A spokesman for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 'The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our position is unchanged. Self-determination rests with the islanders and our commitment to the Falklands will never waver. More broadly, potential action is a matter for FIFA, but it’s been a fantastic World Cup and we’ve said throughout that politics should stay out of football.'
Business Secretary's Comments
Business Secretary Peter Kyle called the banner 'entirely inappropriate' on BBC Breakfast. He said: 'Politics needs to be separate from football. In fact, the World Cup has one of its central tenets that politics is separate from football. That is now a matter for FIFA. I expect FIFA to do its investigation thoroughly.'
Argentine Vice President's Remarks
Argentina’s vice president Victoria Villarruel posted a video of what appeared to be soldiers in the war with the caption 'It wasn’t just another match.' She also described the English team as 'usurping pirates' in a pre-game post.
