Milei comments on Malvinas flag shown by players: 'Worst case, a $30,000 sanction'

Argentine President Javier Milei addressed the display of a flag bearing the phrase "Malvinas are Argentine" by national team players after their victory against England in the 2026 World Cup qualifier. Milei stated that actions on the field are separate from diplomacy and that Argentina would face an economic sanction of up to $30,000 if FIFA investigates the political gesture.

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The things that happen on the field with the players are not part of diplomacy. In the worst-case scenario, Argentina will receive an economic sanction of US$30,000.

He acknowledged the sentiment behind the match, referencing the 1982 Falklands War, and validated the players' desire to express themselves. However, he cautioned against misinterpreting the event, emphasizing that "a football match is a football match." Milei added that the coach and veterans understood this perspective, and reiterated Argentina's diplomatic goal to recover the Malvinas Islands.

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It is a sentiment that is within all Argentines and it is perfectly valid that they want to express themselves and do so. But that must not lead to misinterpretations: a football match is a football match.

The president also highlighted his administration's diplomatic efforts, suggesting that engagement with the U.S. under Donald Trump led to the UN compelling England to negotiate with Argentina over the islands. He stressed the importance of handling this issue intelligently and separately from other matters, warning that mixing them could lead to serious errors with negative consequences. This statement appeared to be a veiled criticism of Vice President Victoria Villarruel, who had referred to the British as "usurping pirates" on social media before the match, drawing a complaint from the British embassy.

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Malvinas are Argentine, we will recover them through diplomacy and intelligent action.

Milei further commented on the celebratory nature of football, calling it a "popular festival" and a "passion" shared by all Argentines. While welcoming any event that brings joy, he warned against making state policy out of it, deeming such an approach a "colossal error." He concluded by stating that while achieving a second consecutive World Cup title would be wonderful, attempting to leverage it for other political purposes would be a "very serious mistake."

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The issue is who makes the mistake; from a position of responsibility, certain errors are inadmissible and could have very negative consequences.