Falkland Islands demand Fifa punishes Argentina for 'insensitive' World Cup flag stunt

The Falkland Islands Government has called on Fifa to punish the Argentine national team for its "insensitive" World Cup "Malvinas" display.

As jubilant players celebrated their dramatic 2-1 semi-final victory over England, cameras captured several members of the South American squad posing with a flag bearing a message which translates as "The Falkland Islands are Argentine."

The gesture sparked fury across Britain and inside Downing Street, with No10 vowing: "The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are."

And now, the Falklands Islands Government has penned a letter to Fifa about the stunt - and has urged the governing body to punish the Argentine Football Association (AFA).

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Jack Ford, a Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly member, described the display as a "clear political statement regarding the sovereignty" of the archipelago.

He wrote: "Videos were also leaked following their Argentina vs Egypt fixture in which the Argentinian squad sang chants about the Falkland Islands in their locker rooms.

"We are disappointed, though regrettably not surprised, by this manner of action, as this is not the first such incident."

Mr Ford pointed to the AFA being slapped with a £20,000 fine by Fifa in 2014 after players help up a banner also reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" during a friendly match against Slovenia.

The Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly member also called for Fifa to show "consistency" within their own rules, citing the Statutes and Disciplinary Code, which bans political, religious and personal messaging at matches.

He also added that the Falkland Islanders affected by the Argentine squad's display have a "settled, democratic position".

Mr Ford wrote: "The Falkland Islands are a diverse, self-governing, self-funding British Overseas Territory, and engage internationally in sport, science, and humanitarian work as such.

"In the 2013 referendum on our political status, 99.8 per cent of Falkland Islanders voted to remain a British Overseas Territory, on a turnout of approximately 92 per cent, in a vote independently monitored by international observers."

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He went on to reference the trauma still felt by the island's population following Argentina's failed invasion in 1982 and branded the stunt "particularly insensitive" to them.

Following his country's victory in the World Cup semi-final, Argentinian President Javier Milei wrote: "While some are busy throwing tantrums befitting a terminally mononeuronal teenager, we, through the diplomatic route, are getting closer every day to the recovery of the Malvinas Islands, Georgias, and South Sandwich Islands, and the surrounding maritime space."

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage said the "disgusting" display proved that Britain needed to bolster its defence.

The Reform UK leader wrote on social media: "Whilst I am disgusted at the behaviour of some Argentinian players last night, the most important thing to do is build up the Royal Navy quickly."

Fifa has confirmed that they are considering disciplinary action for the Argentinian players who were pictured holding up the banner.

A spokesman for the governing body said: "As is standard procedure, Fifa's Independent Disciplinary Committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the Fifa Disciplinary Code."

Whether this assessment will be concluded before Argentina play on Sunday remains unclear.

The Falkland Islands were first reached by English explorers more than a century before Argentina became an independent state.

The archipelago had no permanent population before the British arrived.

Argentina's military junta invaded the Falklands in 1982, but were seen off in just 74 days by the British Armed Forces and soon raised the white flag of surrender.

A total of 649 Argentines died trying to take over the British territory.

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