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UK politicians demand FIFA probe into dominant Argentina squad over ‘Malvinas’ banner
AP ^ | July 16, 2026

Posted on 07/16/2026 10:29:10 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican

The British government on Thursday urged FIFA to investigate Argentina’s team after players posed with a banner claiming sovereignty over the contested Falkland Islands.

Argentina beat England 2-1 in a World Cup semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta.

During post-match celebrations, Argentine players held a banner handed over by fans in the stands, reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Malvinas are Argentine.”

Argentina refers to the Falkland Islands as Islas Malvinas. They were invaded in 1982 under orders from Argentina’s then-military dictatorship, triggering a 10-week war won by Britain.

U.K. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the players’ behavior was “entirely inappropriate. I expect FIFA to do its investigation thoroughly."

FIFA can prosecute Argentina’s players and soccer federation because its disciplinary code prohibits at stadiums any “message that is not appropriate for a sports event,” including those of “a political, ideological, religious or offensive nature.”

The FIFA fines for political messaging are $5,000 to $20,000.

A FIFA disciplinary case under previous leadership banned a South Korean player for two 2014 World Cup qualifying games because he held up a similar banner about a territorial claim against Japan at the 2012 London Olympics. Park Jong-woo took a fan banner with the slogan “Dokdo is our territory” after South Korea beat Japan in the men’s bronze medal game.

On Wednesday, Argentina player Lisandro Martínez was asked if the banner could have stirred deep emotions and tears for a veteran of the Malvinas conflict.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: argentina; falklands; fifa; labour; malvinas; peterkyle; soccer; unitedkingdom; worldcup

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1 posted on 07/16/2026 10:29:10 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Deal with it!


2 posted on 07/16/2026 10:33:31 AM PDT by ComputerGuy
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To: MinorityRepublican

They should be more concerned about parts of England that aren’t English anymore.


3 posted on 07/16/2026 10:33:45 AM PDT by mrmeyer (You can't conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him. Robert Heinlein)
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To: MinorityRepublican

The UK has metastatic Islam-O-cancer and their politicians are worried about a friggin’ banner? Brits, you had better get your civil war completed and the Muzzies and their screw-buddy leftists thrown so far out that even their bride goats will not get that far or your *ss is grassed.


4 posted on 07/16/2026 10:35:09 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: MinorityRepublican

THIS is the hill they want to die on?!
A damn flag?!

What kind of political theater is this?!

Their country has been invaded.
Rapes, assaults, and murders have expanded exponentially.

And THIS is something sufficient to draw their concerted ire? A flag?!!


5 posted on 07/16/2026 10:49:40 AM PDT by dadgum (Fight to WIN or do not fight at all)
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To: All

🚨 AWESOME! President Trump will officially attend the WORLD CUP FINAL this Sunday, Spain vs Argentina

KAROLINE LEAVITT: "On Friday, the president will travel to New York City to attend a FIFA reception at Trump Tower, followed by his attendance on Sunday at the FIFA World Cup between Spain and Argentina."

"His attendance will cap what has been the most watched, most secure, and most successful World Cup in American history."

"This is a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America's ability to host the world on the grandest stage."

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸… pic.twitter.com/HiwRs4saTr— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 16, 2026


6 posted on 07/16/2026 10:51:23 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Sticks and stones and bullets....and banners?


7 posted on 07/16/2026 10:54:10 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...
Sore losers.

8 posted on 07/16/2026 10:55:20 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (The Demagogic Party is just a collection of violent, rival street gangs.)
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To: All
Argentina accuses British warship of ‘illegal military incursion’ near Falklands just hours after World Cup victory
9 posted on 07/16/2026 11:02:50 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MtnClimber


Did you know, the Belgrano survived the Pearl Harbor attack? It was the USS Phoenix before we gave it to Argentina.
10 posted on 07/16/2026 11:04:17 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: SunkenCiv

It’s a rule instituted by FIFA. Unfortunately, it seems everyone wants to pick and choose which rules they want to obey. Argentina doesn’t follow the rules on the pitch, so I guess rules don’t apply to them.


11 posted on 07/16/2026 11:16:37 AM PDT by heylady
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To: MinorityRepublican

The Brits have pretty much lost Birmingham and are on the verge of losing London to muzzies and they’re worried about what some White Argentinians say about the Falklands at a soccer game? If they still had a Navy, maybe they need not be so concerned, but this is a tell, innit?


12 posted on 07/16/2026 11:21:53 AM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
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To: heylady

Labour has no problem with the arrest and even death British citizens in Britain who are attacked by ‘refugees’. But gosh, rules in a senseless game, that’s their priority.


13 posted on 07/16/2026 11:28:27 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (The Demagogic Party is just a collection of violent, rival street gangs.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Argentina won!

England get over it!


14 posted on 07/16/2026 11:32:15 AM PDT by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

FIFA should require Argentine to play their next game with a proper football with pointy ends.


15 posted on 07/16/2026 11:40:50 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Billthedrill

ArgentinA, dang it...


16 posted on 07/16/2026 11:41:22 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: MinorityRepublican

You lost the islands. Sovereignty of the Malvinas (official name) is back in Argentina’s hands.


17 posted on 07/16/2026 12:13:08 PM PDT by WhiteHatBobby0701
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701
Sovereignty of the Malvinas (official name) is back in Argentina’s hands.

The Falklands do not, and never have, belonged to Argentina.

18 posted on 07/16/2026 1:16:21 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: mikey_hates_everything

The Falklands are probably the most British part of Britain that still exists.

The way Argentina is going and how Britain is going, Argentina itself may become more British than Britain - at least as far as western values...but that will take some time.

Still doesn’t justify them lying about the Falklands belonging to them - they’ve never been part of Argentina.


19 posted on 07/16/2026 1:19:08 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
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To: Republican Wildcat
Still doesn’t justify them lying about the Falklands belonging to them - they’ve never been part of Argentina.

"Might is right". The UK is now the "Sick Man of Europe". Argentina knows that it is only a matter of time.

20 posted on 07/16/2026 1:30:44 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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