FIFA release statement over banner Cristian Romero held after pleas for World Cup final bans

Argentina’s players held up a Falkland Islands banner after their 2-1 win over England in the World Cup semi-final

FIFA have issued a statement confirming they are “assessing” and “considering the relevant circumstances” after members of the Argentina squad – including Tottenham Hotspur star Cristian Romero – held a banner referencing the Falkland Islands. The incident occurred after the reigning World Cup winners beat England in the semi-final on Wednesday.

Argentina were trailing 1-0 until the 85th minute thanks to a second-half strike from Anthony Gordon, before late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez in Atlanta saw the 2022 winners progress to the final.

After the full-time whistle, some members of the Argentina squad, including Romero, held up a banner which said “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates to English as “The Falklands are Argentinian”.

In response, the Falkland Islands government has issued a statement condemning the actions of the Argentina players, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on FIFA to launch an investigation into the flag, saying that the Falkland Islands are “ours”.

Within hours, FIFA issued their own response regarding the banner, which was also held by Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez and former Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, among others.

“As is standard procedure, FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps,” FIFA’s statement read.

FIFA’s statement followed swiftly after Jack Ford, Chair of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, wrote a letter addressing the banner displayed by Argentina, in which he expressed that the Assembly were ‘disappointed but not surprised’ by the actions taken.

“I am writing on behalf of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, the democratically elected body representing the people of the Falkland Islands, regarding a matter following the England v Argentina game on the 15th of July 2026,” Ford said.

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“Following Argentina’s victory, members of the Argentina squad displayed a sign reading “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” in what was a clear political statement relating to the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. Videos were also leaked following their Argentina v Egypt fixture in which the Argentinian squad sang chants about the Falkland Islands in their locker rooms.

“We are disappointed, though regrettably not surprised, by this manner of action, as this is not the first such incident: the Argentine Football Association was sanctioned for £20,000 by FIFA in 2014 for comparable conduct.

“We raise this matter for FIFA’s attention on the following grounds:

1. Consistency with FIFA’s own rules. FIFA’s Statutes and Disciplinary Code prohibit the use of football matches and facilities for political, religious, or personal messaging [FIFA Stadium Code of Conduct, section 2.14 and FIFA Disciplinary Code articles 15.1 and 17.2.e].
2. The people affected by this act have a settled, democratic position. The Falkland Islands are a diverse, self-governing, self-funding British Overseas Territory; and engage internationally in sport, science, and humanitarian work as such. In the 2013 referendum on our political status, 99.8% of Falkland Islanders voted to remain a British Overseas Territory, on a turnout of approximately 92%, in a vote independently monitored by international observers. The Falkland Islands were invaded by Argentina in 1982, resulting in a 74-day hostile occupation. The events of this war left Falkland Islanders traumatised, causing such political acts as those after the game to be particularly insensitive to the people of the Falklands. FIFA should bear this context in mind as they make their decision.

“Football is, first and foremost, a sport, and it is the policy of the Falkland Islands Government to wish to not see politics brought into sport, and we support the statement by UK Minister Peter Kyle to this effect.”