The White House has signaled it will not support any ban on Argentina players who celebrated with a banner referencing the Falkland Islands after their World Cup semi-final win over England, according to Sky News. The US government is expected to invoke the First Amendment right to freedom of expression, though this may not shield players from potential sanctions by FIFA, which prohibits political messaging in stadiums.
Background of the Incident
Following Argentina's 2-1 victory over England, Tottenham defender Cristian Romero and Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso were seen celebrating with a banner thrown from the stands that referenced the Falklands. The banner had been banned from the stadium ahead of the match, but players displayed it after the final whistle. The UK government and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey have called for the players to be banned from the final, sending an open letter to FIFA.
US Government Stance
According to Sky News, officials from President Donald Trump's team have rejected UK government calls to sanction the players. Andrew Giuliani, Trump's World Cup chief and son of former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, stated that Argentina was exercising freedom of expression under the First Amendment. The White House reportedly will not support any ban on the players from Sunday's final at MetLife Stadium.
UK Reaction
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson commented: "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." The spokesperson added that potential action is a matter for FIFA, but noted that politics should stay out of football.
FIFA's Potential Action
FIFA has a history of penalizing Argentina for Falklands-related political statements. In 2014, the Argentine Football Association was fined £20,000 after players displayed a similar banner before a friendly against Slovenia. A FIFA spokesperson confirmed that the Disciplinary Committee is reviewing the incident: "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."
Precedent from Spain
FIFA recently handed Spain duo Alvaro Morata and Rodri a one-match ban after they chanted "Gibraltar is Spanish" during celebrations following their Euro 2024 final win over England. This sets a precedent for political statements by players during international tournaments.
Earlier Incidents
This is not the first Falklands-related incident involving Argentina during the tournament. After their Round of 16 win over Egypt, the squad was filmed singing a chant referencing the Falklands, Lionel Messi, and Diego Maradona.
