Downing Street has backed a minister\u2019s call for Fifa to investigate whether Argentina players broke rules by waving a banner in support of their country\u2019s claims to the Falkland Islands, saying: \u201cThe World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.\u201d<\/p>\n
It comes after Argentine players held up a banner that read \u2018Las Malvinas son Argentinas\u2019, which translates to \u2018The Falkland Islands are Argentinian\u2019, in the wake of their 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night. <\/p>\n
Tensions between the UK and Argentina boiled over following the football clash, with Argentina accusing a British warship of an \u201cillegal journey\u201d into its waters, just hours after its victory. <\/p>\n
But No 10 claimed the journey was in accordance with international law and that Argentina was fully notified of the ship\u2019s movement, which was part of a \u201croutine logistics visit to Chile\u201d.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the politically charged banner, the prime minister\u2019s official spokesperson said: \u201cThe World Cup might not be ours but the Falkland Islands definitely are.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur position is unchanged, self determination rests with the islanders. Our commitment to the Falklanders will never waver.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added that any action to be taken \u201crests with Fifa\u201d, adding: \u201cWe\u2019ve said throughout that politics should stay out of football\u201d. <\/p>\n
A banner was held up by some Argentine players after their win over England (Getty)The spokesperson also backed remarks from business secretary Peter Kyle, who had said the intervention from Argentina was \u201centirely inappropriate\u201d and called for Fifa to investigate their actions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw the images this morning, and of course, it’s entirely inappropriate\u201d, he told Sky News. \u201cPolitics should stay away from football. That is a very clear principle of the World Cup, but any consequences that come from that is now a decision for FIFA.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking to the BBC, he added: \u201cWe expect Fifa to undertake an investigation into this. I think it was certain to happen because it was such an egregious violation of the rules of not having political activity as part of the football.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team could face the prospect of disciplinary action from governing body Fifa for violating rules banning political messaging on the pitch.<\/p>\n
Political tensions linger between Argentina and the UK over the Falkland Islands, which boiled over into armed conflict in 1982 after Argentina invaded the islands.<\/p>\n
Buenos Aires has repeatedly claimed sovereignty over the Falklands, which are about 8,000 miles from Britain and 300 miles from mainland Argentina.<\/p>\n
Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel had described England as \u201cinvaders\u201d and \u201cusurping pirates\u201d in the build-up to the fixture, and tweeted a victory message at full-time by saying, \u201cit wasn\u2019t just another match\u201d alongside a video of what appeared to be Argentinian soldiers.<\/p>\n
Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesperson hit back after Argentine football players wielded a politically charged banner (AFP\/Getty)Later on Wednesday, night, she shared images of the players holding the banner, along with a message which translated to: \u201cThe Falklands are Argentine! They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n
It came as Pablo Quirno, Argentina\u2019s foreign minister, accused the Royal Navy of a \u201cmilitary incursion\u201d into Argentine waters in a statement on Wednesday night. <\/p>\n
He claimed HMS Medway had entered Argentina\u2019s waters earlier in July without formally notifying the government. In his statement, he said a \u201cformal note of protest\u201d had been lodged with the British embassy to express \u201cthe strongest objection\u201d to the action. <\/p>\n
But No 10 hit back, claiming it did in fact notify Argentina of the planned trip. <\/p>\n
The prime minister\u2019s official spokesperson said: “The facts here are that we notified the Argentinian government in advance of HMS Medway taking a routine logistics visit to Chile between 5 and 8 July to support British Antarctic survey operations, which will deliver essential stores and supplies to sustain scientific research in Antarctica.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Royal Navy always operates in full compliance with international law. Transit from the Falkland Islands to Chile was carried out by the most direct practical route considering operational safety and weather factors to ensure timely delivery.”<\/p>\n
HMS Medway is a Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessel which is normally based in the Falkland Islands.<\/p>\n
Argentina, the defending champions, beat the Three Lions 2-1 in Wednesday\u2019s match in Atlanta.<\/p>\n
Argentina fans celebrated their victory jubilantly, with some near the pitch holding a banner which read \u201cLas Malvinas son Argentinas\u201d, translated as the Falkland Islands are Argentinian. The banner made its way to the players, who held it up as they revelled in their win.<\/p>\n
HMS Medway, one of the Royal Navy\u2019s global patrol ships (LPhot Gareth Smith\/MOD\/Crown Copyright) (MOD\/Crown Copyright)Their actions sparked furious backlash in the UK, with former army officer and ex-foreign and defence minister Tobias Ellwood telling The Independent: \u201cWin or lose, do so with grace. This planned act wasn\u2019t just about riling England, but about helping Argentina handle the humiliation of 1982 – which still hugely rattles the country today.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s ignore this pathetic stunt, leave Fifa to impose sanctions, and be proud of England\u2019s World Cup performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former security minister and army officer Tom Tugendhat described the banner as the \u201craging of a bankrupt and corrupt state diverting attention from their government\u2019s own failures, as they did once before.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Admiral Lord West – the former head of the Navy and the commanding officer of HMS Ardent, a frigate that was sunk in the Falklands conflict – said it was “pathetic child like behaviour that we should ignore\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough I hope FIFA take some disciplinary action”, he added. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Downing Street has backed a minister\u2019s call for Fifa to investigate whether Argentina players broke rules by waving a banner in support of their country\u2019s claims to the Falkland Islands, saying: \u201cThe World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.\u201d It comes after Argentine players held up a banner that read […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5959,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n