Argentina’s vice president has sparked political controversy by asserting her country’s claim over the Falkland Islands following their World Cup victory against England. Victoria Villarruel, whose father fought in the Falklands War, shared a photo of Argentine players displaying a banner on the field stating “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (The Malvinas belong to Argentina).
In a social media post after the 2-1 win over England, Villarruel emphasized, “The Falklands are Argentine! They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.” Despite FIFA’s prohibition on political displays, some Argentine players, after defeating Switzerland, were heard expressing support for the Malvinas and honoring Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.
Before the recent match in Atlanta, Villarruel posted about the Falklands, stating, “Tomorrow we play against the usurping pirates. This isn’t just another match.” She further declared, “I’m not going to be politically correct or cold-hearted; against the English, it’s always something more. It’s the Malvinas, it’s Diego, it’s Leo’s last one, and it’s putting the brakes on the invaders.”
The match, which escalated into heated conflicts on the field, saw Argentine players displaying the banner despite manager Lionel Scaloni’s attempt to separate politics from sports. The team, including Lionel Messi, held up the banner for fans, reaffirming Argentina’s dispute with British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
The Falkland Islands have been a point of contention since the 1982 conflict, which ended with Argentina’s surrender and led to significant casualties on both sides. The islands, initially claimed by the British in 1765, voted in a 2013 referendum to remain a UK overseas territory.