British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has backed calls for FIFA to investigate Argentina's national football team after players displayed a banner claiming sovereignty over the Falkland Islands following their World Cup semifinal victory against England.
Downing Street announced the Prime Minister's support on Thursday, endorsing the stance of Business Secretary Peter Kyle, who urged football's international governing body to launch a formal inquiry into the incident.
The controversy arose when Argentinian players held up a sign reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" on the pitch after their 2-1 win in Atlanta, referring to the contested South Atlantic islands.
A Downing Street spokesperson addressed the geopolitical demonstration while discussing the upcoming tournament final between Argentina and Spain.
"The PM wishes both teams well for the final, especially Spain," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson reiterated the United Kingdom's long-standing position on the territory's sovereignty, emphasizing that the political demonstration on the pitch remained a matter for sporting authorities to resolve.
"I would just say, 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," the spokesperson said.
The UK government reiterated that political demonstrations should remain entirely separated from international sporting fixtures.
"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," the spokesperson added.
Earlier on Thursday, Business Secretary Peter Kyle expressed strong disapproval of the banner during a broadcast interview, calling for swift disciplinary action from tournament organizers.
Kyle described the banner as "an egregious violation of the rules of not having political activity as part of the football."
He emphasized that the governing body must enforce its own regulations regarding political neutrality on the field.
"In fact, 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," Kyle said.
Downing Street confirmed that Starmer fully agreed with Kyle's assessment.
Additionally, the spokesperson addressed questions regarding England head coach Thomas Tuchel following the team's elimination.
"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 spokesperson said.
Diplomatic friction between the two nations has also risen due to a recent naval transit.
Argentina lodged a complaint regarding the Royal Navy vessel HMS Medway passing through waters it claims as national territory during a voyage from the Falklands to Chile this month.
The British government rejected the complaint, stating that the Argentinian government had been notified in advance of the route, which was chosen solely for logistics, operational safety, and weather factors.
