Posted on 07/18/2026 9:49:00 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
The White House has defended the Argentina’s football team’s right to free speech after waving of a Falklands banner in the wake of their semi-final win over England.
The sign, originally held by fans but taken onto the pitch during the full-time celebrations, supported the country’s territorial claim to the islands. The flag read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates to “The Falklands are Argentine”.
It risked being in breach of the International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) rules on political flags.
A number of politicians condemned the team for displaying the message in the following days, including Ed Davey — leader of the UK political party the Liberal Democrats —who suggested the players involved should be suspended from Sunday’s final against Spain.
Governing body FIFA said it was “assessing match reports” before deciding whether to punish Argentina over the incident.
Once FIFA has received those reports, it will make an assessment and decide on what the next steps should be. There is no set timeframe for any decisions to be made. FIFA has been approached for comment.
On Friday, however, executive director of the World Cup task force Andrew Giuliani defended the celebrations. When asked if he thought the players were wrong to wave the banner, he said they had the “ability” to do so.
“We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America,” Giuliani said, after being asked on his thoughts by Sky News. “In terms of the ability and opportunity to be able to make those statements, they have the ability to do that in the United States.”
The first amendment of the U.S. constitution defends the right to free speech and “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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Perhaps GWB Jr. left a roll of duct tape in the White House.
They never had the falklands anyway but they can fly the flag if they want.
Pretty sure the Falklands belonged to England before the nation of Argentina even existed.
So... we can expect to see the Confederate flag flying proudly.
andrew guiliani is an idiot. The 1st amendment has nothing to do with this. The players were at work and their employer said no political signs on company time.
Like most of America belonged to England before America nation was created.
That doesn’t mean America belongs to England today does it?
Regardless ,it’s not Argentina’s island
Why should it be Britain’s when Britain is thousands of miles away?
In 2013 about 99% of the people living on the Falklands voted to remain part of England.
Sad fact, is it may be the only English part of Britain left.
“Why should it be Britain’s when Britain is thousands of miles away?”
How far is Hawaii from the U. S. mainland?
So distance doesn’t matter.
How far is Hawaii from the U. S. mainland?
Hawaii should never have become a State.
I hadn’t thought of that...but you may be correct!
Which is why eventually the British government will allow the Argies to have it. Can’t have patriotic Brits anymore.
Yeah but the UK as it is right now is on life support. Argentina will take over the Falklands by 2050.
They may not have any choice. They cannot defend it, and if Argentina took it over as they did last time, there is no way I can see that the British could retake it.
I see the Falklands as a Dead Man Walking. IMO, it is just a matter of time.
Milei won’t be there forever, and I see him as a mildly moderating source (though he has said they will be reclaimed via diplomacy and not force)
My understanding is that the no flag rule is IFAB's not FIFA's.
So how is your comment correct??
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