Minister Hits Out At Argentine Football Team Over Falklands Banner

A cabinet minister has called out the Argentine football team after its players held up a banner supporting their country’s claim to the Falkland Islands.

Shortly after their 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup semi-final, the winning team grabbed a political sign which read “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” – translating to “the Malvinas are Argentine” – and waved it on the pitch.

The banner refers to Argentina’s ongoing demand for the British overseas territory, known in the UK as the Falklands Islands and in Argentina as Islas Malvinas.

Britain went to war with Argentina in 1982 over the South Atlantic archipelago and won after a deadly ten-week conflict.

The locals also voted in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory in a 2013 national referendum.

But sovereignty over the islands remains a sore spot between Argentina and Britain.

Asked for his response to the footballers’ sign, UK business secretary Peter Kyle told BBC Breakfast: “It was entirely inappropriate.

“Politics needs to be separate from football. The World Cup has one of its central tenets that politics is separate from football.

“That is now a matter for FIFA, I expect FIFA to do its investigation thoroughly.”

He added it was an “egregious violation of the rules”.

Kyle also told Times Radio: “When it comes to the Argentinians, I think the dignity with which our team acted, I think is the perfect contrast and really shows, really shows, you know, them for their own behaviour by contrast.

“And when it comes to the rest of it, FIFA need to really take the action that deserves to happen.”

He later told LBC: “It was, of course, offensive to to us…there must be an investigation into it.”

The Conservatives’ shadow sports minister Louie French also condemned the Argentine move.

“The Falklands are British. That is not up for discussion,” the MP said. “Last night’s pathetic stunt by the Argentinian team was shameful and FIFA must the throw the book at them.

“The Conservatives will always stand up for the people of the Falkland Islands and defend their right for self determination.”

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