The White House has defended Argentina’s decision to display a controversial political banner following their semi-final win over England.
Lionel Messi inspired the defending champions to a 2-1 victory in Atlanta on Thursday (AEST) to set up a final against Spain on Monday.
During the players’ celebrations on the pitch, they unveiled a sheet which read: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas,” which translates to “The Falklands are Argentine”.
The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory in the southwest Atlantic Ocean that has been the subject of a long-running dispute between the UK and Argentina.
The islands were the subject of a war between the two nations in 1982 and led to the deaths of 255 British military personnel, three islanders and 649 Argentine soldiers.
Argentina could face disciplinary action for unfurling the banner as it may contravene FIFA’s rules regarding political statements.
But the White House has come out in support of the message, saying Argentina has the opportunity and ability to “make those statements” in the US.
On Friday, Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House FIFA task force, referenced the US constitution’s free speech rights, saying: “We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America.”
By contrast, the UK government has supported FIFA’s decision to investigate the matter.
A UK spokesperson said: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.”
They went on to add: “We do not wish to see politics being brought into sport.
“Nor do we wish the Islands and their people to be used as a political football in every conversation about England and Argentina.”
Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel took to social media to claim the victory over England “wasn’t just another match”.
He also shared a video of what appeared to be Argentine soldiers, along with the message: “The Falklands are Argentine. They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.”
A Falklands referendum conducted in 2013 saw residents vote strongly in favour of remaining a UK territory — with 1,513 of 1,517 votes cast in support of them remaining so.