Argentina awaits FIFA's decision on the 'Falklands banner'

FIFA will review match reports before deciding whether to take any action against Argentine players who raised a banner reading “Las Malvinas (Falklands) are Argentina” after their 2-1 victory over England in the 2026 World Cup semi-final, it was announced on Thursday.

British Business Secretary Peter Kyle called on FIFA to open an investigation into the incident following Wednesday’s match held in Atlanta.

The office of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street endorsed the minister’s call, following the World Cup semi-final match.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The World Cup may not be ours, but the Falkland Islands certainly are.”

Argentina invaded the British overseas territory in the South Atlantic in 1982.

However, Britain regained the archipelago after a short war, following the deployment of a naval force by then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Kyle told BBC television: “Politics must be kept separate from football. In fact, one of the fundamental principles of the World Cup is that politics should be separate from football.”

He added: “It is now up to FIFA. We expect it to investigate this matter.”

FIFA issued a statement later on Thursday, saying: “We are studying the match reports.”

The statement added: “In accordance with established procedures, FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee is currently reviewing the match reports and examining the relevant circumstances before making a decision on any further potential steps based on FIFA’s Disciplinary Code.”

The Argentine Football Association was previously fined £20,000 ($27,000) by FIFA in 2014 for players standing in front of a banner bearing the same message before a friendly match against Slovenia.

Britain occupied the Falkland Islands in the 19th century, but Argentina maintains that the islands are part of its territory.

For his part, Argentine President Javier Milei described the move as “perfectly valid and legitimate,” telling El Observador radio: “It is a genuine feeling among all Argentines,” but he urged against mixing politics with sports, adding that “a football match is just a football match.”

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Pablo Quintana posted on X a statement expressing “the strongest rejection” of the British vessel HMS Midway entering Argentine territorial waters, describing the act as “conducted without consultation and illegally,” and noting the lack of proper notification.

Quintana said the vessel, which is based in the Falkland Islands, was accused of violating bilateral agreements in a diplomatic protest note dated July 13, submitted to the British Embassy in Buenos Aires.