Argentina charged by Fifa over ‘The Falklands are Argentine’ banner

Telegraph SportWed, July 29, 2026 at 5:11 PM UTC

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The banner that caused a backlash in Britain and has prompted Fifa to charge three Argentina players - Thomas Coex/AFP

Fifa has charged Argentina over the Falklands banner their players unfurled after beating England in the World Cup semi-final.

Cristian Romero, the Tottenham Hotspur captain, and Giovani Lo Celso, the former Spurs midfielder, were among those holding the flag, along with Lisandro Martínez, the Manchester United defender. The banner read “The Falklands are Argentine” and caused a political backlash.

“The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are,” then prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s deputy spokesman said the day after the match in response to the post-match goading.

Javier Milei, Argentina’s president, later backed his country’s players, promising to take over the British Overseas Territory through diplomatic means.

It marked an escalation in the decades-long row over the Falklands, which Argentine politicians inflamed in the build-up to the semi-final.

Credit: X/@poxelse

Fifa, currently battling severe opposition from football associations and politicians from across the globe over plans to sell stakes in the World Cup, has now opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina.

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Fifa said using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature was a potential breach of the disciplinary code.

Other alleged breaches include discriminatory chants and gestures, late kick-offs, security protocol failures, inappropriate team and spectator messages, and objects thrown by fans across several matches during the tournament.

In 2014, Fifa fined Argentina £20,000 pounds for a similar banner held up by players before a friendly with Slovenia.

Meanwhile, disciplinary proceedings were also opened against several players after the final in New Jersey where Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time.

A brief brawl erupted at the final whistle when Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes shoved Spain’s Gavi to the ground as the World Cup winner’s substitutes rushed onto the pitch to celebrate.

Paredes faces three assault counts while Nahuel Molina faces two counts. Molina, Thiago Almada and Argentine official Roberto Ayala as well as Spain’s Gavi face one count each for unsporting behaviour.

“In accordance with the Fifa Disciplinary Code, the respondents have now been provided with the opportunity to present their position, following which a decision will be issued by the Fifa Disciplinary Committee in due course,” the governing body said.

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Source: “AOL Sports”