The British government has urged FIFA to investigate the Argentine football team after their players displayed a banner showing that they have power over the Falkland Islands during the celebrations following their victory in the semi finals of the World Cup against England.Argentina beat England 2-1 in the match FIFA World Cup semifinal Wednesday in Atlanta. During the post-match celebrations, the Argentine players posed with a sign given to them by supporters in the stadium that said, “Las Malvinas son de Argentinas” (“Malvinas and Argentina”). Argentina refers to the Falkland Islands as Islas Malvinas.The club could face sanctions from FIFA under rules that prohibit political messages on the pitch.UK business secretary Peter Kyle criticized the players’ actions, saying they crossed the line between sport and politics.“Politics should be separated from football,” Kyle told the BBC. “In fact, the World Cup has one of its main points that politics is different from football.“This is now a matter for FIFA. I hope that FIFA will investigate thoroughly.”The rivalry between England and Argentina continues in football over the long-running dispute over the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory of about 3,500 people. The islands are about 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) from the United Kingdom and about 300 miles (480 kilometers) from Argentina.Argentina claims that the islands were taken illegally in 1833. Britain says that its claim dates back to 1765 and sent a ship to the islands in 1833 to remove Argentine soldiers who tried to control the area.This dispute led to the Falklands War of 1982 when Argentina annexed the islands. The conflict lasted 10 weeks and ended when Britain regained control. 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British personnel and three islanders were killed.
