Read 3 minutes18 Jul 2026 10:23 PM IST
The Argentina team is protesting England’s taunting A banner relating to the Falklands War After a 2-1 victory in the World Cup semi-final, the White House defended the Latin American team, saying it was their right to free speech to demonstrate.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the World Cup Task Force, said Argentina’s team had the “ability” to do so under the USA’s First Amendment rights. “We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America. In terms of the ability and opportunity to be able to make those statements, they have the ability to do so in the United States,” Giuliani told Sky News.
Argentina’s Lautaro Martínez and Giovanni Lo Celso sparked controversy after the semi-final match with a banner reading ‘Las Malvinas Putra Argentinas’. Its translation: ‘Falkland Islands [Malvinas] Are Argentina.’
of the sky @RobHarris The White House asked World Cup chief Andrew Giuliani if Argentina’s players were wrong to use stadium celebrations to claim sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
Check out his response below⬇️ pic.twitter.com/hLJQrj3PEn
– Sky News (@SkyNews) 17 July 2026
The Falkland Islands — or Islas Malvinas, as they are known in Argentina — have been at the center of a sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the UK since Britain regained control of the islands in 1833. Argentina argues that it inherited sovereignty over the islands from Spain. Business as illegal.
In 1982, the two countries fought a 74-day war in which 649 Argentines and 255 British died. Officially, Britain continues to administer the islands, with a majority of residents voting to remain a British overseas territory in a 2013 referendum. But Argentina still considers the British protectorate essential to its national identity.
FIFA regulations state that any political banners or flags with political messages are strictly prohibited in the vicinity of the stadium before, after and during matches. International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules also prohibit players from using sports equipment with political messages.
FIFA’s code of conduct also states that fans “may not curse or chant in a political, offensive and/or discriminatory manner”. The world body is currently reviewing the on-field gesture in Atlanta under rules banning political messages.