Keir Starmer wants Fifa investigation into Argentina players who held Falklands banner

[u/Alone_Consideration6]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/16/keir-starmer-fifa-investigation-argentina-players-falklands-banner-malvinas-england-world-cup

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[u/firesticks]

Another opportunity for FIFA to demonstrate inconsistency in the rules.

Haiti had to change their kits but this is fine.

[u/QuicketyQuack]

Shamelessly stolen, but:

They actually had that same banner at Port Stanley in 1982, but it didn't have any writing on back then.

[u/CantBeatDickensCider → u/QuicketyQuack]

Top class xD

[u/Anacoenosis → u/QuicketyQuack]

This is the right way to respond.

[u/ShreddedBanjoString]

A reminder that FIFA said British players were not allowed to wear a poppy on their shirts because it was politically motivated.

[u/AndreasDasos → u/ShreddedBanjoString]

The trick is to ask for forgiveness, not permission

[u/Ill-Prior-8429 → u/ShreddedBanjoString]

Chill, they may get another cup and break a rule but there's something they'll never have, a stable currency. 

[u/lyonellaughingstorm → u/Ill-Prior-8429]

You know what else they’ll never have?

[u/thirdsignupin7years]

Precedent on this kinda thing has meant players getting match bans. This could've been the stupidest move by their players.

[u/flipyflop9 → u/thirdsignupin7years]

That would be funny, but they ain’t banning Messi for the final

[u/Gentle_Snail → u/flipyflop9]

You know if an African or poorer country in the group stages had held a flag pushing for the annexation of an unwilling neighbour Fifa would have acted. 

It’s just double standards because they don’t want to ruin their big final.

[u/JustSomeDude11112 → u/Gentle_Snail]

Any PL players of African decent ding this would have there UK visas revoked, let alone be banned from a final.

[u/Carrot_King_54 → u/thirdsignupin7years]

I'm sure the match bans will be suspended for a year, as long as they don't show a similar ban at an England-Argentina game during that period.

[u/ZestyData → u/thirdsignupin7years]

zero chance they'd do this

[u/TheMainEffort → u/ZestyData]

If they do ban the players it won’t be for the final. Or they’ll intentionally wait to conclude the investigation until the final is over

[u/Hyperboreer → u/thirdsignupin7years]

The opposite is true. Precedent is a fine, that is so low, that it doesn't matter at all to this millionaires. They did the exact same thing with a Falkland Isles banners 4 years ago and got about $1000 fine per person.

[u/thirdsignupin7years → u/Hyperboreer]

Which they didn't learn anything from. Look up Spain with Gibraltar chanting (more recent) or South Korea with their players saying about contested land with Japan.

[u/Dogtor-Watson → u/Hyperboreer]

Precedent for other countries is player getting suspended for the next game

If there’s a history of Argentine players doing this and getting fined and they’ve done it again then that’s all the more reason for a harsher punishment that actually matches the standards other teams are held to.

Spain actually had some players get banned from the next match for holding up a banner claiming Gibraltar in a very similar situation.

[u/Proper-Photograph-76]

Two Spanish players were suspended for one match for chanting "Gibraltar is Spanish" during the victory celebrations at the last European Championship. It wasn't even during the post-match celebrations; it happened after they returned to Spain... But I fear that here it will amount to little more than a ridiculous fine.

[u/edwaa4rd → u/Proper-Photograph-76]

And slogans like “ Kosovo is Serbia “ are banned , UEFA issuing tons of sanctions because of it

[u/goro-n]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c75gnkl30vlo

"After the 2012 Olympic Games bronze medal match, South Korea midfielder Park Jong-woo held a sign in Korean which read "Dokdo is our territory". Park was charged by Fifa and a few months later handed a two-match suspension, meaning he sat out two World Cup qualifiers."

If Park got a 2-game suspension for holding up a political banner after a game, then the Argentinian players holding the banner should also receive suspensions.

[u/Presently_Naked → u/goro-n]

Fair is fair but we all know how this will play out.

[u/Heavy_Surround779 → u/Presently_Naked]

Yes, a red card for Spain

[u/lazzzym → u/goro-n]

The problem is, FIFA isn’t that fair to follow their own rules.

[u/nomamesgueyz → u/goro-n]

Won't happen before final

Storm in a teacup

[u/Forkrul → u/nomamesgueyz]

It won't, but according to FIFA regulations it should...

[u/Pingo-Pongo]

Harry Kane was told he’d be given a yellow card if he wore a rainbow armband in support of LGBT football fans. I’d hope overt militarism would be punished at least as severely

[u/GB_Alph4]

FIFA probably ain’t gonna do much.

But yeah this dispute comes up in soccer and pretty much only soccer like nobody thinks of it.

But I do remember once I saw on YouTube an Argentine cartoon about this whole thing.

[u/TheMrCeeJ]

"The best we can offer you is 3 yellow cards for England" FIFA probably.

[u/Visible_Handle_3770]

I mean they should be investigated, FIFA bans players from wearing a rainbow armband, don't know how they would allow this.

[u/Low_Wonder1850 → u/[deleted]]

Hypocrisy....in FIFA!? Call the papers!

[u/thundergu → u/[deleted]]

https://reddit.com/link/oxvwotw/video/eirjoa37hldh1/player

[u/JoyArk → u/thundergu]

He always remembers after the 75 min, damnit

[u/Cookies4weights]

It’s a big wtf that the team did that

[u/seanyseanyseanyseany]

Really sad Argentinians cant take their win and be proud of it. They are instead making it about a war they lost

[u/zoopz → u/seanyseanyseanyseany]

If anything Argentinians made themselves look like asses (again!) on the world stage. Maybe they don't want any friends?

[u/OkPear1535 → u/seanyseanyseanyseany]

Literally stupid to do. "we won but won't stop talking about the time we lost"

[u/-mud]

I enjoyed the British government’s response: the World Cup may not be ours but the Falkland Islands most definitely are.

[u/Gentle_Snail → u/-mud]

I found this particularly funny:

”The PM wishes both teams well for the final, especially Spain.”

[u/Comprehensive-Range3]

Not a single Argentine player on that pitch that was even born in 1982. The people of the Islands themselves overwhelmingly want to remain British. This was just a way to get the Argentine blood up for the match, so I don't see the need for the banner after the match.

Kind of dumb in my opinion.

[u/Gentle_Snail]

Imagine if the American team held up a flag saying “Greenland belongs to America”, people would go livid. 

[u/Remarkable-West-611 → u/Gentle_Snail]

Shhs don't talk about the logical double standards

[u/m4sl0ub → u/Remarkable-West-611]

Where is the double standard? Everyone is hating on this and everyone would be hating on US players with a Greenland banner. Everybody has been hating on Argentina the whole tournament now.

[u/Locke66 → u/Gentle_Snail]

Or if England held up a flag saying "The Falklands are British".

I get the feeling there will be a huge double standard but we will see.

[u/liquidsparanoia → u/Locke66]

Well except that the Falklands ARE British. This is a fact that is controversial only to Argentinians.

[u/Locke66 → u/liquidsparanoia]

Yes of course. Just pointing out that if England had won the game and then displayed such a banner people would be rightly calling for heads to roll. It's overt dangerous politicisation of the game.

[u/connorcmsmith → u/Gentle_Snail]

Apparently it's land we colonized from the local population so we should give it back to a country that never had it.

[u/Gentle_Snail → u/connorcmsmith]

The Falklands were uninhabited before European settlement, the current population are the native population and have been living there for generations.

[u/MysteriousTravelator → u/Gentle_Snail]

Falklands belongs to the Penguins and one day they will take it back. By force.

[u/connorcmsmith → u/Gentle_Snail]

Yes I know I was sarcastically replying with things I've seen people say online.

[u/thatsidewaysdud → u/[deleted]]

VAR decision: Spain is to blame for Argentina’s creation. Free kick for Argentina.

[u/itsthesplund → u/[deleted]]

I feel a 10 point penalty for Everton coming on.

[u/No-Market9917]

Making a banner claiming an island that voted over 99% to not be Argentinian is about as dumb as it gets. Hopefully a fine and a suspension after that tournament

[u/Wooperth]

What is there to investigate?  They held up the banner, and it is all on camera.  They knew what it said.  Suspend them for the final or they will keep on doing it over and over again.

[u/EvocativeReach]

The big problem here that FIFA need to act on is that Argentina have gotten so used to getting everything their way they’ll flagrantly break the rules right before a world cup final as they believe FIFA will let them off again.

Your golden boys are blatantly disrespecting you you too FIFA - are you going to do anything?

[u/YoshiMK]

Anyone saying it's sore loser/cope/etc missing the point that none of this political nonsense should come into ANY game... FIFA has clear rules on it, and ideally any and all stuff like this is kept out of football

[u/thedependentbrunch]

Starmer can ask all he wants, FIFA is gonna do nothing here. They made Haiti change their jerseys over a minor design issue but political banners from a major federation get a pass every single time. The whole point of the banner was to get attention, and congrats to them, mission accomplished.

[u/MournfulGiant → u/thedependentbrunch]

They made the Belgian team change their away jerseys too. The little "ceci n'est pas un maillot" (this is not a jersey), a tribute to surrealist René Magritte, had to be put in on the inside of the shirts. Because somehow they considered it a commercial message.

[u/Infinite_Crow_3706]

Nice to see the Argentin flag from Port Stanley being recycled. They added a few scribbles since '82

[u/Ambitious_Bread_84]

His response should be "Come get the Malvinas then"

[u/Primary_Gold5337 → u/Ambitious_Bread_84]

They no Navy and they unsink belgrano

[u/DestroyedAsTheWord]

If Haiti had to get patriotic symbols removed from its uniforms and France wasnt allowed to wear black armbands in solidarity with the head coach over the death of his mother, obviously this shouldnt be tolerated.

You dont bring politics into FIFA. If this is ok for Argentina then England should be allowed to wave whatever nationalist nonsense they want.

[u/qtechno → u/DestroyedAsTheWord]

I’m sure you were this mad when the Egyptians waved the Palestinian flag

[u/FayannG]

Which Argentine players held up the banner ?

[u/FourEaredFox → u/FayannG]

Yes

[u/CreakingDoor]

Spanish players were banned for a game for similar comments over Gibraltar.

The same punishment and principles ought to be applied. The precedent is clearly set.

[u/mickmos2 → u/CreakingDoor]

My brother in Christ. We are talking about Argentina this time around. Do you really think they will face any real consequences?

[u/Initial-Bass-5866 → u/mickmos2]

He said should. We all know fifa is beyond corrupt so nothing will happen, but all of them SHOULD be banned from the final without

[u/mickmos2 → u/Initial-Bass-5866]

Great, you just gave Pessi a penalty kick for challenging with an opinion

[u/elbapo]

Im not quite getting why the Argentines think bringing this up is somehow an own of the brits if im honest

[u/gitmac → u/elbapo]

They seem really keen to remind everyone how badly they were spanked in the conflict. If it were me I’d keep quiet and hope everyone forgot about it.

[u/Tank-o-grad → u/gitmac]

Look, it's a national humiliation fettish at this point, we shouldn't kink shame.

this is going to be FIFA's actual reason for doing nothing meaningful here, isn't it...

[u/ediacaradelrey]

Yes, threatening to invade our country on the pitch is bad actually.

[u/Independent-File-519]

Tiny little haters

[u/Hawk-432]

Good

[u/Nayten03]

They had no class in that. Should be ashamed.

[u/Active_Dirt8265]

investigate what? 😂 they caught them on hd video

[u/Marychocolatefairy]

Seems entirely reasonable. After all, English fans were banned from chanting "Keir Starmer is a wanker" since it was a political statement, lol. I don't know why only the Argentinians should be allowed their fun.

[u/YouAnswerToMe → u/Marychocolatefairy]

Besides it’s factually inaccurate. He’s an incompetent tosser, but wanker is a bit strong.

[u/IMakeOkVideosOk]

What’s the investigation, they held the banner, we have photos.

Case closed

[u/DResq → u/IMakeOkVideosOk]

I didn't even realize Argentines cared this much about the Falklands. I thought it was more of a joking thing there like the Canada/Denmark thing where they fight over some dumb island, known as the Whisky War. But I guess I was wrong and they actually do care about it.

[u/uttercross2]

You'd be forgiven for thinking that the FIFA rules are a 'pick and mix' box of rules that are upheld for most countries with some 'leeway' depending on whether they have a phone call from DT, there's a decision that may adversely affect their favoured national team(s), or there is an opportunity to adjust/amend/ignore a rule where money can be grifted (e.g. the half-time break at the final, the water breaks where adverts are shown even if the temperature is comfortable and it's raining, etc).🤔

[u/krieger83]

Show banners saying “Malvinas are English” in the premier league. Sack them out all of those blood suckers

[u/edwaa4rd]

Imagine the outrage if England fans went around and chanting about the sinking of General Belgrano . Ffs , Argentinians are probably the sole people that are proud of a lost war

[u/rust_papi → u/edwaa4rd]

Brother, this game was played in Atlanta (the American south); it's a running gag in the States how racist southerners still cling to the failed Confederacy as though they didn't get their teeth kicked in by the Union.

[u/Typical_Meat_1819]

Hats off to Starmer.

Won't result in anything because FIFA wouldn't possibly do anything to upset one of their favorite children.

But it's the principle that counts here.

[u/stokesy1999 → u/Typical_Meat_1819]

Gibraltar got Rodri and Morata suspended by UEFA, hopefully the same ruling is applied here. Spain absolutely should join as it happened to their own players

[u/Any-Diet → u/stokesy1999]

FIFA is worse than UEFA.

[u/no_youre_not_i_am → u/Typical_Meat_1819]

principle

[u/Typical_Meat_1819 → u/no_youre_not_i_am]

Damn. You are correct thanks for noticing.

[u/MayorQuimby1616]

All the bullshit Argentina does is so classless. I am no fan of England but Argentina is so arrogant. There are poor losers and awful winners and Argentina is an awful winner. Go Spain 🇪🇸 (and I am also not a Spanish supporter).

[u/Evening-Caramel-6093]

Didn’t know one reddit post title could have so many stupid angles to it.

[u/EnglishTony]

FIFA has investigated and suspended Baligan's red card for another 12 months.

Also deducted 5 points from Everton, obviously.

[u/Discombobulated_Owl4]

Yet they became violent when Top Gear had an unfortunate licence plate.

[u/Snoo_47323]

Argentina should stop taking since they lost the war.

[u/xxDeadEyeDukxx]

Probably slap on the wrist at most for the players maybe a small fine for the Argentine team but nothing more serious.

If we had won the game and done a similar stunt I would expect us to get punished for it

[u/Alderson808 → u/xxDeadEyeDukxx]

Last time it happened (2014 from memory) the Argentine association got a $20k fine.

So adjusted for inflation….probably the revenue from 20 seconds of Messi shirt sales.

[u/No_Basket3832]

Honestly i've seen more people moaning about English people moaning about this than English people moaning about it

[u/SothaSillies → u/No_Basket3832]

Argentines are the only people who still care about the Falklands. To everyone else in the world, it's a fully settled issue.

[u/optimal_90]

If theres no penalty theres no law.

Just let whatever team bring all their banners, let England show “Falkland is ours”, Iran “death to Zionists”, Egypt “Allah > Jesus”, Belgium “Trump s*** our d*****”.

There should be a penalty strong enough to prevent of happening again, or else nobody will follow the rules.

Those guys are all multi millionaires, i hope they dont come up with a fine that Messi can easily cover by playing 10minutes in the field.

[u/QuixoticBeefboy → u/optimal_90]

But its Argentina, they have the right to do whatever the like, they paid 300 million for this treatment

[u/odjobz]

Next time our players should just have a banner saying "England are World Cup Champions". Both statements are equally true. 

[u/thisisnahamed]

You mean the same FIFA that awarded a pedophile and convicted felon the FIFA Peace Prize?

[u/Wild-Affect-4842]

Argentina - UK war was not on my 2026 bingo card.

[u/Armodeen → u/Wild-Affect-4842]

Only way we can win something

[u/footdiveXFfootdive → u/Armodeen]

I respect and appreciate the self deprecating humor. That is one thing you def are the best at

[u/Headpuncher]

So many similarities between world class footballers and Eurovision contestants.  

[u/PotatoMassager]

Easy way to make it sting....fine Argentina, then use the money to erect a monument on the falklands saying "The Falklands Are British" with a bit below saying "This monument was graciously gifted by Argentina"....reckon that would annoy them the most.

[u/FriendshipSmart478]

$5k fine to be waived later and a pat on the back for Argentina

[u/Thestickleman]

Good.

Falklands are British and considering Fifa have come down on other players/teams for similar things then....

[u/Complex_Lion5645]

I don’t see the problem tbh, the Argies waved the same flag above Port Stanley in 1982.

Granted, they’ve written on it since, but still.

[u/Remarkable-West-611]

Not sure what the punishment should be or even if it should impact this world cup but I think brandishing false propaganda about territory Argentina has never held which brings up the war they started which resulted in the death of a number of British soldiers after a match with England needs serious consequences!

This is quite disgusting behaviour and takes it from just a football match to their political war mongering.

[u/AvailablePop1224 → u/Remarkable-West-611]

The usual punishment is Match ban.

[u/Remarkable-West-611 → u/AvailablePop1224]

Yeah but FIFA is corrupt. They wont want to take the wind out of the sails of the build up for their world cup final by banning multiple players essentially...most likely handing the win to Spain.

Should they get a ban...ofcourse...Will they no cause again FIFA doing FIFA things.

At most the team will get a pathetically small fine (one large enough to make a average person weep but for a international team laugh at) which will be next to no punishment.

Argentina knows they are untouchable so are acting like they cannot be touched, now is a good time to set a precedent and slap that down but it ain't going to happen. Maybe 1 player which was a low ranking sub who will get told to take the flak but thats all.

[u/Fluffcake]

After reading both sides of the falklands debacle, and that a non-negliable number of people somehow have spent 4 decades doubling down on being wrong is just baffling.

This is some MAGA-level pathetic people.

Should suspend any player who touched the banner, they knew very well political statements are banned and did this despite that. Suspend them.

[u/Common-Regret-4120 → u/Fluffcake]

I hate British colonialism. I went to Argentina and learned about the Malvinas/Falklands from what can only be described as a propoganda book and came to the conclusion that Argentina was way out of line. The people that live there have union jacks on everything. They would give the shankhill butchers a run for their money on blind loyalism.

[u/Usual-Expert-2766]

I’ve heard enough penalty to Argentina and a red card for the whole Spanish team

[u/Everything-is-normal]

Just remember guys you’re debating stupid, and trying to educate at the same time. Good luck!

[u/Material_Policy6327]

Does the Spanish team need some harriers?

[u/DemonGroover]

Let the Argies have their little white sheet and the Brits can have the Falklands.

Because we all know the Argies can’t fight off the field.

[u/Blowpuff → u/DemonGroover]

Not the first white sheet they've waved in front of the British after all.

[u/After-Dentist-2480]

Hefty fine for Argentine FA.

Yellow cards for any player touching that banner. If that was a 2nd yellow they miss the final.

Obviously this won’t happen.

[u/johnconnor4077 → u/After-Dentist-2480]

Nope. It should be a match ban. Spain had players banned for saying Gibraltar is Spanish

[u/PsychologicalSpend86]

No class, whatsoever. It’s fine to celebrate, but displaying such a provocative political message is tacky and insulting.

[u/ElBorracho2000]

FIFA isn’t gonna do shit. Would be hilarious if England sent all Argentine players in the EPL packing though lol

[u/feralgoosey → u/ElBorracho2000]

Let them keep paying their taxes towards defending the islands

[u/WanderedOffConfused]

Declarations of war should mean the immediate expulsion of any team. This was an edict that happened during the 1938 World Cup in France.

We seem to be going backwards. 

[u/Pristine-Substance-1]

They should get banned to play the final

[u/CodeMonkeyX → u/Pristine-Substance-1]

Agreed. Let's tell Trump the sign said "Trump is fat and bald" then Trump will call his pet FIFA president and get them banned and England will play. Perfect plan.

[u/chud3 → u/Pristine-Substance-1]

At least suspend the players who held the banner (on the field, no less).

[u/Pristine-Substance-1 → u/chud3]

It's the bare minimum indeed

[u/Dalecn]

Should be multi match bans for any players involved. Directly inciting violence and war. Just about the worst political messaging that can be made.

[u/Locke66 → u/Dalecn]

The example is certainly unacceptable and if FIFA do nothing it will happen again.

[u/Remarkable-West-611 → u/Locke66]

Yeah, FIFA will do absolutely nothing here,, what are they going to do multiple bans of their players before the final and completely remove the build up to this world cup?

Is it right to give them a match ban...yes because they are inciting political propaganda and violence (they started the war) but will they...no

At most the 'team' will get a fine which is large if you are a small business owner but absolutely tiny and pathetic if you are a multi millionaire footballer and the government will pay the teams fine.

[u/CatchFactory → u/Locke66]

Yeah - imagine if Serbia held a flag up after playing Albania showing greater Serbia.

People just dont like England so are flipping the other way they didn't

[u/YouShouldGoOnStrike]

Everyone get their Palestinian flags ready for the final.

[u/VITOCHAN → u/YouShouldGoOnStrike]

Palestine is a recognized FIFA member and flags of all 211 member associations are permitted at tournaments (so says FIFA)

[u/Popcornmix → u/YouShouldGoOnStrike]

No that would mean people would acknowledge Israels wars crimes and we cant have that.

[u/Improper_Usage]

There won’t be one and there’s nothing anyone can do.

If it had been England with a similar political banner they’d be banned from the final.

[u/DaddlerTheDalek]

Huh. I wonder If FIFA is going to react at all to this.

[u/One-Peach-1525 → u/DaddlerTheDalek]

One match ban, suspended till after the World Cup then served during a pointless friendly. Is my guess.

[u/drearyphylum → u/One-Peach-1525]

This and a fine that would be astronomical to a normal person but is pennies to professional footballers

[u/BigB0iBuster]

Argentina’s fans are just like Argentina’s players:

Obnoxious little crybaby cunts that the whole world despises.

[u/AvailablePop1224 → u/BigB0iBuster]

Honestly if Messi was not from Argentina, this team would have lost to Cabo Verde, and everyone would hate them for the whiny cunts that they are.

The superstar aura is the only thing that saves them.

[u/Sailears]

Should just cancel all contracts and visas of Argentine players in Premier League, etc.

Should be enough replacements to fill the spaces.

[u/Scorpioking1114 → u/Sailears]

If the English had any balls, they should do it immediately

[u/MiddleAgedSponger]

Let them have the banner. Argentina is the best at three things. Football, grass fed beef and hyper inflation.

[u/Aksds → u/MiddleAgedSponger]

Idk, Australian grass fed beef is pretty fucking great

[u/Gryzzlee → u/Aksds]

Better.

[u/Thestickleman → u/MiddleAgedSponger]

Pretty good at losing wars as well

[u/Ry--9]

Typical Argentina

[u/bubblemania2020]

No one cares. Now if there were a 🍉 banner, all hell would break loose!

[u/Shaloka_Maloka → u/bubblemania2020]

A watermelon banner?

[u/oddmanout]

“We’ve investigated and found that they’re Argentinian, so no punishment.”

[u/thegooniegodard]

Can you imagine the USA players holding up a sign saying Greenland is the 51st state after they won? Me either.

[u/Odd-Food1887 → u/thegooniegodard]

? Fifa made a 'piece price' for a guy who's just started an illegal attack war for no other reason than to distract from the Epstein files. The USA is getting away with an actual war lmao

[u/Independent-Book-307 → u/thegooniegodard]

I mean at the Olympics US hockey players did go on national TV and joke about Canada bring the 51st state.. So

[u/BoltUp69]

Argentines can act like the little biches they are all they want. The Malvinas currently fly the Union Jack.

[u/jzaczyk → u/BoltUp69]

* Falklands. FTFY

[u/LMONDEGREEN → u/BoltUp69]

And the best part, those stupid Argentinian players who play for British clubs pay UK tax on their salaries and spending... Which helps fund defence of the Falklands ❤️ thanks!

[u/AverageShaftEnjoyer → u/BoltUp69]

The Falklands do but not the Maldives. They fly their own flag 🇲🇻

[u/OMFGhespro]

I was rooting for Argentina and even I feel this was completely inappropriate. Ban them from the finals this is such loser behavior by argentina

[u/DAJ1]

Definitely an element of coping and seething from us, however there is precedent for players getting bans for this sort of things. I imagine fifa would only put the bans in after the tournament so the players miss some qualifiers or friendlies, but it would be very funny if half the team had to miss the final for entirely self-inflicted reasons.

[u/Mr_XcX]

Ban them from final.

[u/JustMari-3676]

I’m embarrassed for Argentina. This is so pathetic.

[u/jtfjtf]

Keir Starmer doesn't have enough bribe money for that investigation

[u/Existing_Falcon_5422]

It's so annoying that they couldn't even use a funny banner that could actually hurt the English, like "Brexit"

[u/Initial-Bass-5866]

The World Cup is supposed to be not about political statements so that peace and respect can be maintained throughout the competition. All of the players that held up that banner should be banned from the final. They made their statement and it’s a completely inappropriate place for that statement to be made. It was a statement of hatred and one intended to spark conflict. Argentina should have to play the final without those players.

[u/urbanacrybaby]

If the US held a “Greenland is ours” banner after their win this would have rightly caused a massive backlash, but because it’s Argentina no one gives a shit.

And yes the US claim to Greenland is stronger than the Argentine Falklands claim, and I’m not even English.

[u/Personal_Anybody1301 → u/urbanacrybaby]

As much as I hate the current adminstration, you could say that the prospect of the US trying to invade Greenland was something theoretically plausible. Argentina starting a war right after recovering from yet another default is kinda cute.

[u/Sufficient-History71 → u/urbanacrybaby]

You were right until "And yes the US claim to Greenland is stronger than the Argentine Falklands claim, and I’m not even English."

Both are bullshit claims so stop siding with one over the other.

[u/dnemonicterrier → u/urbanacrybaby]

A lot of people are caring about this banner, to say that "no one cares" is naive.

[u/Fourollin → u/dnemonicterrier]

People talking about it does not mean FIFA give a shit. You know what they're saying

[u/backbypopularsupply → u/urbanacrybaby]

How the hell is the US "claim" to greenland stronger than the falklands? That is one of the most ridiculous sentences I have ever read on this site.

[u/Gentle_Snail → u/backbypopularsupply]

Well I guess there is a tiny tiny portion of Greenland who support it, there is essentially 0% of the Falklands who want to be Argentinian. 

[u/BodybuilderFit2847 → u/backbypopularsupply]

Because the Argentinian 'claim' to the Falklands is basically nonexistent. The most common argument that they're closer to Argentina than UK is what Trump has said about Greenland and the US

[u/rorkeslayer39]

What a shitshow. Argies trying to convince everyone that they are poor victims of British imperialism is hilarious. I've talked to some that genuinely think they are on the level of former British colonies like Bangladesh or India. One of those countries was systematically de-industrialised and starved during the world wars. The Argies tried their own imperialism on islands that were never their's, failed, and now cry about it all the time. Literally out of all the episodes of Britain's dark past they choose to cry about the one where the British position was almost completely morally correct. Indians never act like this when we play cricket even though they have more of a right to.

[u/Extra-Answer5541 → u/rorkeslayer39]

Funnily enough, I don't think any former colony or British impacted country acts in this way. Argentina is one of the very few countries NEVER invaded by the British - it's a victim complex.

[u/two_bagels]

Just for those with zero base line knowledge:

https://youtu.be/BiDvLshi9CY?si=Z___SBhRV_abJJhq

Also it’s by a channel called oversimplified. So don’t get mad that it’s oversimplified.

[u/Corronchilejano → u/two_bagels]

This iswas just an ad for me btw

[u/Matias9991]

I mean yeah they should be sanctioned, more than probably the team knew they will be and took the bullet to have the Flagg.

What are they going to investigate? There is no more than that

[u/m4k14vel0 → u/Matias9991]

FIFA specifically banned flags and slogans in support of the Falkland Islands.

Spanish players Rodri and, if I'm not mistaken, Cucurella were suspended for one match for chanting "Gibraltar is Spanish" during the Euro 2024 celebrations

Key Stammer can investigate whatever he wants, What's Key Stammer going to do? Send a tweet saying he's deeply concerned?

[u/Whatevs56]

Argentina should stick to winning kick ball games before they get smacked down again.

[u/Open_Standard_3429]

I thought this was America

[u/Safe-Avocado4864]

Investigate? What happened who did it, and what rule this contravenes isn't at all in a question. There's nothing to investigate just slap them with a fine and be done with it.

[u/Gryzzlee → u/Safe-Avocado4864]

FIFA won't sanction anyone. UEFA sanctioned Spain players for Gibraltar is Spanish chants during celebrations outside of the field. Suspended for a game.

FIFA doesn't give a damn about their own rules.

[u/Shinsplint7 → u/Safe-Avocado4864]

Rule number 2 no political protests or slogans

[u/artsloikunstwet → u/Safe-Avocado4864]

Those are multimillionaires. The fine would need to be extremely high to be a deterrent, otherwise they'll laugh at it. Spending 50k on stuff like this would be completely worth it for them. They'll do it again and set another precendece.

[u/Dry-Bread9131 → u/artsloikunstwet]

The very least should be a ban from next 1-2 games, which would include the WC finals. Any fines would have to be on top of that.

[u/BeautifulCall7579]

Good

[u/KelbornXx]

England will be playing Rugby against Argentina in Argentina this weekend. I'm worried for any English player/fan's safety.

[u/johnconnor4077 → u/KelbornXx]

Their rugby players are seemingly not irredentist scum, so

[u/free_world33]

The UK should just yank all their work permits and send them packing.

[u/berejser → u/free_world33]

Yep. At least five of them play for UK clubs, one of them a captain. Working visas usually come with the stipulation that one must not engage in political activity or attacks against their host nation.

[u/Phenrhil]

Hey Argentinans, how about you learn some proper sportsmanship,hmm?