Argentina players brandish controversial Falkland Islands banner after beating England in World Cup | OneFootball

The team’s players held a sign that read, in Spanish, ‘The Falkland Islands belong to Argentina’ in reference to the British territory

Argentina players brandished a controversial Falkland Islands banner after knocking England out of the World Cup.

The team’s players held a sign that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, meaning “The Falkland Islands belong to Argentina”.

It came after the team beat the Three Lions 2-1 after coming from behind to lead in injury time.

Argentina's players show a banner that reads, in Spanish, ‘The Malvinas (Falkland Islands) belong to Argentina’

AFP/Getty

The match in Atlanta on Wednesday had the highest level of the security at the tournament so far due to fears over fan trouble.

Fights broke out between the fans after full time and a number of arrests were made outside the stadium.

Lisandro Martinez and Giovanni Lo Celso were among the players holding up the sheet which laid claim to the islands.

The stunt could see Argentina land in trouble with Fifa, which has strict rules against such political messages from teams at matches.

The Falklands War claimed the lives of 649 Argentinian military personnel, 255 British military personnel and three Falkland Islands civilians.

Argentinian players were previously criticised for a song, also sung by fans, which references the Falklands.

Argentina players held up the sign as they celebrated their win

AFP/Getty Images

The banner was also left on the pitch

Getty Images

After Argentina’s extra-time victory over Switzerland in the World Cup quarter-finals, players were filmed in the dressing room singing about Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and “the Malvinas” in a video posted on the team’s social media accounts.

The Argentina squad could be heard chanting: “Por Malvinas, por el Diego, por la ultima de Leo” as they celebrated reaching the semi-finals. The chant translates to “For the Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo’s last one (tournament).”

Supporters have also been heard chanting “Y ya lo ve, y ya lo ve,” whilst they bounce up and down, before continuing, “El que no salta, Es un ingles!”. This translates to “And now you see, and now you see, whoever doesn’t jump is English!”

The Falklands War remains a major symbol of patriotism in Argentina, and its ties to football are deeply ingrained, with the conflict taking place on either side of their first World Cup victories in 1978 and 1986.

When Argentina beat England in the quarter-finals en route to lifting the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Maradona dedicated his infamous “Hand of God” goal to the fallen Argentinian soldiers from the Falklands War.