Argentina risk FIFA punishment over Falklands Banner after England semifinal win

Argentina could face punishment for celebrating with a Falklands banner following their FIFA World Cup semifinal win against England. The reigning champions displayed a flag reading "The Malvinas are Argentine" as Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez sealed a historic comeback.

Tottenham Hotspur star Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso held the banner while celebrating before their supporters in jubilant scenes for Lionel Messi and his teammates. However, they risk penalties for the politically charged banner as the International Football Association Board (IFAB), soccer's lawmakers, and FIFA maintain a clear position on flags, slogans, and symbols being displayed.

'Las Malvinas' is terminology used in Argentina for the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory located off the coast of the South American nation's mainland, via The Mirror.

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The lead-up to the semifinal was dominated by the political context surrounding the relationship between the two nations following the 1982 Falklands War, when the Argentinian government invaded, attempting to seize the territory from the United Kingdom. The conflict spanned 10 weeks, claiming 649 Argentine and 255 British military personnel, with three civilians also perishing.

FIFA could penalize the World Cup finalists for exhibiting the banner, which was positioned on the field by former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi. Even if it isn't classified as political, it would violate FIFA's stadium code of conduct, which forbids material of a political nature, among other restrictions.

"Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images. Players must not reveal undergarments that show political, religious, personal slogans, statements or images, or advertising other than the manufacturer's logo," IFAB's rulebook states.

"For any offence the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by FIFA." Mirror Football have approached FIFA for comment.

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The historical tensions between the two countries overshadowed the lead-up to Tuesday's semifinal. Following their 3-1 victory over Switzerland, the squad was recorded celebrating and chanting about the Falklands, where they sang about beating the Three Lions 'for the Falklands'.

The animosity escalated with footage surfacing on social media showing a Union Jack flag set alight on the edges of Buenos Aires. While Lionel Scaloni's side declined to comment on the political context surrounding the match, it proved impossible to dismiss, with the scenes at the final whistle in Atlanta reviving the storyline before kickoff.

England fell short of advancing to their first World Cup final in 60 years following a breakdown in the closing moments of their semi-final encounter.

Anthony Gordon gave the Three Lions the lead when he slipped in ahead of his marker to open the scoring in the second half. However, Argentina turned up the heat, and the one-time winners ultimately buckled as two goals in seven minutes from Fernandez and Martinez dashed England's hopes of reaching the World Cup final.