Barbara Parades, the sister of Argentina star Leandro Paredes, has reignited the Falklands controversy by claiming 'it is ours' following Argentina's World Cup semi-final win over England.
Falklands banner sparks uproar
After Argentina's 2-1 victory over the Three Lions, players celebrated and revealed a white banner reading "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas" ("The Falklands belong to Argentina"). The UK government responded: "The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are."
Barbara Parades' statement
Barbara told reporters: "Getting this far and beating England along the way meant everything to us. We might not have the fourth star, but we have the Falklands for ourselves."
Post-match brawl and potential sanctions
Argentina were outclassed by Spain in the final, and post-match behaviour drew criticism after punches were thrown. Leandro Paredes was involved in a brawl with Eric Garcia and Gavi but escaped without a red card. FIFA has an investigation underway but has yet to sanction Argentina.
Visa concerns
Argentina's Premier League stars could theoretically have UK work visas revoked if conduct is considered "not conducive to the public good", but legal expert Asma Bashir described such an outcome as "highly unlikely".
Paredes' mother speaks out
Paredes' mother, Myriam Benitez, said: "We never disrespect anyone. Respect always, I think that's everything that motivates us and gets us to where we really want to go. I know what the Argentine National Team means to my son."
