Argentina faces FIFA probe over "Malvinas are Argentina" banner after England win

Argentina's national football team secured a spot in the World Cup final with a dramatic comeback victory against England, but their celebration has ignited controversy. After a hard-fought 2-1 win, where Lionel Messi provided two assists to overturn a deficit, some Argentine players were seen on the field holding a banner that read "Las Malvinas son Argentina." This slogan refers to the Falkland Islands, a territory over which Argentina and the United Kingdom have a long-standing dispute.

The two nations fought a war over the islands in 1982, which ended in Argentina's surrender and resulted in significant casualties on both sides. The football match between England and Argentina, a rematch of sorts given the historical conflict, carried heightened tension. Players Lisandro Martínez and Giovani Lo Celso were photographed celebrating with the banner, which is believed to have come from the crowd.

This display now puts the Argentine team at risk of disciplinary action from FIFA, which strictly prohibits political, insulting, or racist messages on banners, flags, or clothing within stadiums. The incident is likely to be reported to FIFA, potentially leading to sanctions. A similar case occurred during the 2012 London Olympics when South Korean player Park Jong-woo was penalized by FIFA for holding a "Dokdo is our land" banner after a bronze medal match.