Argentina has declared a national holiday to celebrate their World Cup semi-final victory over England, a match that has sparked controversy due to a banner referencing the Falklands.
National Football Teams Day
The Argentine Football Association has designated July 15 as National Football Teams Day. The date was chosen to mark the country's World Cup semi-final triumph over England this summer. The contentious banner displayed after the match, which championed Argentina's claim to the Falklands, is to be presented to Argentine veterans of the conflict.
It was on July 15, in Atlanta, that Lionel Scaloni's side shattered England's hopes of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966, scoring twice late on to clinch a 2-1 victory. Argentina subsequently fell to Spain in the final, losing 1-0.
Official Recognition
During a meeting of their Association and Professional League Executive Committee, chaired by AFA president Claudio Tapia, the organisation resolved to commemorate the occasion.
A statement read: "The tribute is not solely for that milestone achieved by the senior national team. The recognition is, of course, also for each and every one of the national teams - youth, men's and women's - that train day in and day out at the Lionel Andres Messi complex with the hope, joy, and responsibility of defending the national colours."
The decision to establish a permanent day of recognition for the victory came as defeating the Three Lions "set the whole country alight, with people flooding the streets in pure celebration," according to the statement.
FIFA Disciplinary Proceedings
Argentina's conduct in the wake of the final whistle prompted FIFA to launch disciplinary proceedings against the nation after players unveiled a banner bearing the message: "Las Malvinas son Argentinas." This translates to The Malvinas (the Spanish name for The Falklands) are Argentine.
FIFA cited a number of violations, including the use of discriminatory chants and gestures, misconduct, security and protocol failures, and the display of inappropriate messages.
The Banner's Journey
The banner was handmade from a bed sheet, with the slogan daubed in black paint. It was passed to former Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez, Tottenham defender Cuti Romero and ex-Spurs player Giovanni Lo Celso, though the vast majority of the Argentine squad aligned themselves behind its message.
Those responsible for creating the banner are said to be members of a group hailing from Villa Luro, a district of Buenos Aires. According to a report from InfoBae, they managed to smuggle the flag into the stadium in Atlanta by concealing it in their underwear.
The homemade flag has since sparked replicas in stadiums throughout Argentine football, with certain clubs, including Ferro Carril Oeste, embracing the typeface and displaying a version of their own. It has been suggested the controversial banner is in "good hands" after being retained by Patricio Auber, who travelled with the team delegation to the World Cup. The flag is now believed to be located in the country and will shortly be passed on to Argentines who served in the Falklands conflict.
