Sign up now to our Make Football Great Again newsletter and get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox!
According to Sky News, the White House will not support Argentina’s suspended players from Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium. Officials from President Donald Trump’s team claim they have rejected requests from the British government to punish players who paraded the banner.
In particular, the Trump campaign’s World Cup chief, Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, argued that Argentina was simply exercising its freedom of expression, pointing to the First Amendment.
After the banner, which featured mainly Tottenham defender Cristian Romero and Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, was seen by Keir Starmer, the outgoing prime minister’s press secretary said: “The World Cup may not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.
“Our position has not changed. The right to self-determination belongs to the islanders and our commitment to the Falkland Islands will never waver. More broadly, potential action is a matter for FIFA, but it was a great World Cup and we have always said politics should have no place in football.”
FIFA has a history of punishing Argentina for political comments regarding the Falkland Islands. In 2014, the country’s football association was fined £20,000 after players displayed a similar banner before a friendly against Slovenia.
FIFA also confirmed it was considering disciplinary action against Argentina for the action, which took place shortly after the final whistle.
A FIFA spokesperson said: “As is standard procedure, FIFA’s Independent Disciplinary Committee is currently assessing the match report and, after taking into account the relevant circumstances, deciding on possible further action in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”
