Keir Starmer has voiced his support for a Fifa investigation concerning Argentine players who displayed a banner affirming the country’s claim to the Falkland Islands following their World Cup semi-final win over England, as reported by Downing Street.
While traveling to Ukraine for his last official trip as Prime Minister, Starmer endorsed the call made by Business Secretary Peter Kyle for Fifa to investigate possible breaches of regulations.
Following Argentina’s 2-1 victory in a closely contested match in Atlanta on Wednesday, several players unfurled a banner stating: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” which reflects Argentina’s stance on the disputed South Atlantic territory.
Argentina is set to face Spain in the final on Sunday. When inquired about Starmer’s preferred team, his spokesperson commented.
“The PM wishes both teams well for the final, especially Spain.”
Regarding the banner, Starmer’s spokesperson stated.
“The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our position is unchanged. Self-determination rests with the islanders and our commitment to the Falklands will never waver. “More broadly, potential action is a matter for Fifa, but it’s been a fantastic World Cup and we’ve said throughout that politics should stay out of football.”
“an egregious violation of the rules of not having political activity as part of the football”
Earlier on Thursday, Kyle expressed to the BBC that the banner represented “The World Cup has one of its central tenets that politics is separate from football. That is now a matter for Fifa. I expect Fifa to do its investigation thoroughly.”
“Thomas Tuchel and his team have taken us deep into the tournament this World Cup, giving us thrilling matches against teams like Mexico and Norway that people in England will never forget, and he thinks that the team have represented England wonderfully, both on and off the pitch.”
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson confirmed that Starmer supported Kyle’s request for an inquiry by Fifa.
When asked if Thomas Tuchel should reconsider his position after England was significantly outperformed for parts of the match, the spokesperson indicated that this decision lies with the England head coach. “We notified the Argentinian government in advance of HMS Medway undertaking a routine logistics visit to Chile between the 5 and 8 July to support British Antarctic Survey operations, which will deliver essential stores and supplies to sustain scientific research in Antarctica. “The Royal Navy always operates in full compliance with international law and the transit from the Falkland Islands to Chile was carried out via the most direct practicable practical route, considering operational safety and weather factors to ensure timely delivery.”
The semi-final was expected to potentially rekindle tensions surrounding the Falklands. The conflict in 1982, triggered by Argentina’s invasion of the islands, resulted in over 900 casualties.
Argentina has raised concerns that HMS Medway, a Royal Navy vessel, entered its territorial waters without permission while traveling from the Falklands to Chile this month.
In response to this assertion, Starmer’s spokesperson remarked.
“The Falklands government is disappointed – though regrettably not surprised – that the Argentine football team decided to tarnish the result of last night’s World Cup football semi-final – a game that did not in any case involve the Falkland Islands. “That said, it is hardly news to anyone that the people of the islands were victims of an aggressive invasion in 1982, which left many traumatised. The banner displayed by Argentina last night, therefore, was particularly insensitive for many people in the Falklands … We hope Fifa will make good on their promise to keep politics out of sport, and sanction all behaviour of this nature in line with its own rules.”
“The Royal Navy always operates in full compliance with international law and the transit from the Falkland Islands to Chile was carried out via the most direct practicable route, considering operational safety and weather factors to ensure timely delivery.”
The Falkland Islands government expressed their disappointment, stating.
“The Falklands government is disappointed – though regrettably not surprised – that the Argentine football team decided to tarnish the result of last night’s World Cup football semi-final – a game that did not in any case involve the Falkland Islands. That said, it is hardly news to anyone that the people of the islands were victims of an aggressive invasion in 1982, which left many traumatized. The banner displayed by Argentina last night, therefore, was particularly insensitive for many people in the Falklands. We hope Fifa will make good on their promise to keep politics out of sport and sanction all behavior of this nature in line with its own rules.”
