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Argentina faces FIFA punishment over players' act after defeating England in World Cup semi-final
Joshua N.
Millions of England fans have woken up this morning with a sore head and a feeling of despair.
Argentina emerged victorious over the Three Lions in their World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night (July 15), winning 2-1 in a dramatic tie.
England took the lead in the 55th minute, but a number of bad substitutions and a change in game plan invited Argentina back into the game, as they staged a late comeback.
Goals in the 85th and 92nd minute condemned England to a familiar fate, while Argentina marched on to their second World Cup final in a row.
But aside from the footballing battle, the match between the two nations was very politically charged.
This is due to the decades-long controversy around the Falkland Islands, an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, just 300 miles off the coast of Argentina.
While it is a self-governing British Overseas Territory, Argentina continues to claim it, calling the archipelago the Islas Malvinas.
But Argentinian players took matters a step further, unfurling a banner after the game which read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," translating to "The Falkland Islands are Argentinian," before leaving it on the pitch.
Potential punishment from FIFA
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni had said that he didn't want the game to become about the conflict over the British territory, but some of the players had other ideas.
Political tensions have lingered for decades between Argentina and Great Britain over the Falkland Islands.
This all stems from a 74-day conflict in 1982 during which 655 Argentine servicemen, 255 British servicemen and three people from the islands died, in the Falklands War.
But according to football's lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), and FIFA, there are heavy restrictions on political messages being sent by teams or supporters.
Any political flags, slogans and symbols being displayed can result in a punishment.
The IFAB law states: "Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images.
"Players must not reveal undergarments that show political, religious, personal slogans, statements or images, or advertising other than the manufacturer's logo.
"For any offence the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by FIFA."
This isn't the first time that Argentinian players have sent a message about the Falklands, having held up a banner with the same wording following a friendly against Slovenia in 2014.
FIFA would fine the Argentine Football Association £20,000 ($27,000).
World Cup final: Spain vs Argentina
The European champions will face the South American champions in the pinnacle of international soccer, with Lionel Messi coming up against Lamine Yamal.
They will face off at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 20, to decide who will win the sport's biggest prize.
While Messi and co. will be looking to become the first team in 64 years to win back-to-back World Cups, Spain will be hoping to win their second World Cup, with Yamal looking to write a new chapter in the nation's storied sporting history.