Argentinian players unfurled a banner reading ‘The Falklands are Argentinian’ after they knocked England out of the World Cup 2-1 in a nail-biting semi-final clash.
Lisandro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso celebrated on the pitch with the sign after the final whistle blew – before they were joined by their fellow teammates.
A total of 255 British servicemen and 907 people in total died in the 1982 Falklands War which saw UK armed forces retake the islands after an Argentinian invasion.
FIFA had banned Argentinian flags featuring the Falklands from the stadium due to their political significance.
Both countries had traded blows over the territory, which is located 300 miles off the coast of Argentina, since their places in the semi-final were booked.
Argentina’s players had previously chanted about beating England ‘for the Malvinas’ – using their native name for the islands prior to the match.
Their Foreign Minister, Pablo Quirno, claimed the people living on the islands had been ‘artificially implanted’ – and that a referendum on British sovereignty was illegitimate.
Falklanders were asked in a 2013 ballot whether they wanted the islands to remain under British rule, with 99.8 per cent voting yes.
Lisandro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso celebrated on the pitch with the sign after the final whistle blew – before they were joined by their fellow teammates
Argentina players hold up a banner with the words ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ which translates to ‘The Malvinas are Argentine
Argentina fans hold a banner with the words “The Malvinas are Argentinian”, referring to the Falkland Islands
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper rejected the referendum attack and tried to cool tensions.
‘We’re looking forward to the football,’ Ms Cooper told The Telegraph.
The animosity dates back principally to a ten-week war in 1982, when an Argentinian invasion of the Falklands was seen off by the British – at the cost of 907 lives.
It spilled over into football four years later when Maradona scored his infamous ‘hand of God’ goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final clash.
He used his fist to put the opening goal past England, allowing Argentina to win 2-1 and go on to claim the World Cup trophy.
During tonight’s match, an impressive performance from the Three Lions at the start of the first half saw Antony Gordon put the side in front.
But substitutions to send England into a defensive set-up would heartbreakingly backfire.
England were just less than six minutes away from their first World Cup final for 60 years when Enzo Fernandez scored the equaliser that denied them.
Captain Harry Kane comforts goal scorer Anthony Gordon after the final whistle following their 2-1 defeat to Argentina
Kane looks to the skies as Argentina celebrate on the final whistle in Atlanta, Georgia
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford sobs at the final whistle after England came within minutes of progressing to the World Cup final
This was followed two minutes into injury time by a header from Lautaro Martinez, who secured Argentina’s place in Sunday night’s final against Spain in New York.
It was England’s fourth-ever appearance in the final four of a World Cup, making this the most high-stakes match since 1966.
But in a story familiar to long-suffering fans, they just couldn’t keep ahead at the final whistle.
The royals were among those quick to congratulate the team for their impressive run to the semis, with King Charles III taking to social media and writing: ‘Commiserations to Harry and the team.
‘While you Three Lions may be licking your wounds today, you remain the pride of a nation – and will rise again.’
And outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to England’s ‘passion’ and ‘energy’.
Writing on X, he said: ‘Gutted. Tonight wasn’t the result we all hoped for, but this England team has given it their all.
‘The passion and energy they’ve shown representing the badge has made us all proud.’
