Argentina had barely finished celebrating one of the most dramatic victories of the tournament when attention shifted away from the football and towards a politically charged banner on the pitch in Atlanta.
Following their 2-1 comeback win over England, several members of Lionel Scaloni’s squad were photographed near or holding a sign carrying the words ‘Las Malvinas Son Argentinas’ – ‘The Malvinas are Argentine’. The wording uses Argentina’s name for the Falkland Islands, the British Overseas Territory that remains the subject of a long-running sovereignty dispute between the two countries.
Lisandro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso, who have played for clubs in the Premier League, celebrate with a banner claiming the Falkland Islands
Giovani Lo Celso and teammate Nicolas Otamendi celebrated on the pitch with the sign after the final whistle blew
Argentina fans hold a banner with the words ‘The Malvinas are Argentinian’, referring to the Falkland Islands
Tottenham defender Cristian Romero, former Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso and Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez were among the players identified in images from the celebrations. Lionel Messi was also seen dancing close to the banner as Argentina’s squad and supporters marked their passage to a second successive World Cup final.
The display immediately provoked anger in Britain and renewed scrutiny of Argentina’s conduct during the tournament. Some supporters demanded suspensions for the players involved, while others called for Romero to lose the Tottenham captaincy or for Manchester United to take action against Martinez. Those reactions remain calls from fans rather than confirmed disciplinary measures.
The key question now is whether FIFA will open a formal case. According to the source report, flags and banners referring to the Falklands had been prohibited inside the stadium because of their political significance. If officials determine that the players knowingly participated in a prohibited political display, the Argentine Football Association could face sanctions. A fine is considered more likely than player suspensions, though no punishment had been announced at the time of writing.
FIFA regulations generally seek to keep political messages out of matches and official celebrations. The governing body has previously sanctioned national associations for banners, chants and displays that it judged to be political, provocative or discriminatory. Argentina has also been punished over similar messaging before: in 2014, its football association was fined after the national team displayed an almost identical banner ahead of a friendly against Slovenia.
The latest incident is particularly sensitive because it occurred immediately after Argentina defeated England on the World Cup stage. The two nations’ football rivalry has long been intertwined with history, politics and the memory of the 1982 conflict.
Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands on April 2, 1982. Britain sent a military task force to retake the territory, and Argentine forces surrendered on June 14 after a ten-week war. The conflict cost 907 lives: 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British service members and three Falkland Islanders.
The islands have remained under British administration. In a 2013 referendum, 99.8 per cent of participating islanders voted to retain their status as a British Overseas Territory. Argentina rejects the referendum and continues to claim sovereignty, while the British government maintains that the wishes of the islanders should determine their future.
Captain Harry Kane comforts goal scorer Anthony Gordon after the final whistle following their 2-1 defeat to Argentina
The banner, which used the Argentinians name for the Falklands – Las Malvinas – was also passed around the team’s jubilant crowd of supporters
Kane looks to the skies as Argentina celebrate on the final whistle in Atlanta, Georgia
Giovani Lo Celso adjusts the banner on the pitch after Argentina’s victory
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford sobs at the final whistle after England came within minutes of progressing to the World Cup final
Tensions had already been elevated before the semi-final. Argentina players had previously been filmed singing chants referring to the islands, while political figures in Argentina used the match to restate the country’s claim. The subject therefore formed part of the atmosphere surrounding a fixture that was already considered one of the most emotionally charged games of the tournament.
On the pitch, England appeared to be heading towards their first World Cup final in 60 years after Anthony Gordon put Thomas Tuchel’s side ahead early in the second half. The Three Lions defended their advantage until the 85th minute, when Enzo Fernandez equalised with a powerful finish after being supplied by Messi.
Argentina then completed the turnaround in the second minute of stoppage time. Messi delivered a cross into the penalty area and Lautaro Martinez rose to head the ball beyond Jordan Pickford, sending the defending champions through to face Spain in the final.
The result left England’s players devastated. Pickford was pictured in tears, Harry Kane consoled Gordon, and supporters were left questioning the defensive substitutions that preceded Argentina’s late surge. Yet within minutes, much of the public conversation had moved from tactics and heartbreak to the banner and the behaviour of the victorious players.
There were also reports of tension between rival supporters after the match. Some England fans complained of provocative celebrations and flag-waving as they left the stadium. Those accounts added to concerns surrounding a fixture that security officials had already treated as high risk because of its historic and political context.
Argentina’s players are entitled to celebrate an extraordinary sporting achievement, but international tournaments operate under rules designed to prevent political disputes from being brought directly onto the field. That is why the images are likely to be examined closely, regardless of whether the banner originated with players or was handed down from the crowd.
The banner, which used the Argentinians’ name for the Falklands – Las Malvinas – was passed into the crowd
FIFA will need to establish who introduced the sign, which players actively displayed it and whether officials had clearly communicated the prohibition. The governing body will also face pressure to apply its rules consistently. A weak response could encourage further political messaging, while an unusually severe punishment would raise questions about proportionality.
For Argentina, the controversy threatens to distract from preparations for a historic final against Spain. Messi and his team-mates are attempting to become the first side since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup. Their extraordinary comeback against England should have been remembered primarily as another chapter in Messi’s late-career legend.
Instead, the celebrations have reopened one of the most sensitive disputes in international politics and football. Until FIFA clarifies whether an investigation has begun, the banner will remain a powerful and divisive image from a night that was already filled with drama, heartbreak and history.
