SOCCER: Argentines back World Cup players over Falklands banner

BUENOS AIRES — Residents in Buenos Aires expressed support on Thursday for Argentina's World Cup players after they displayed a banner asserting the country's claim over the Falkland Islands following their semifinal victory over England, despite Britain's call for FIFA to investigate the incident.

Following Argentina's 2-1 win over England in Atlanta, several players held up a banner reading "Las Malvinas Son Argentinas" ("The Falklands are Argentine") while celebrating with supporters.

A Reuters photograph showed the homemade white banner being waved by fans seated in the front row of the stadium. Argentine newspaper Clarin reported that midfielder Giovani Lo Celso approached the supporters and asked to borrow the banner after the match.

Subsequent photographs showed Lo Celso and defender Lisandro Martinez holding the banner as they celebrated and sang with Argentina's supporters. The banner was later seen lying on the field.

FIFA's Stadium Code of Conduct prohibits "banners, flags, flyers, apparel and other paraphernalia that are of a political, offensive, and/or discriminatory nature" inside stadiums.

As of Thursday, FIFA had not announced any disciplinary action and declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. Similar incidents involving players in the past have resulted in fines or match suspensions.

British Business Minister Peter Kyle told BBC Radio that the matter should be formally investigated, saying politics should remain separate from the World Cup.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey also urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to take action, saying in a public letter that the display "directly insulted the people of the islands" and calling for the Argentine players involved to be disqualified from Sunday's World Cup final.

The sovereignty dispute over the South Atlantic territory — known as the Falkland Islands in Britain and the Malvinas in Argentina — has remained a longstanding source of tension between the two countries.

Britain and Argentina fought a brief war over the islands in 1982, resulting in the deaths of 649 Argentine soldiers and 255 British service members.

In Buenos Aires, many residents defended the players' actions.

"For me, it is very important that players, as public figures, express their views, especially on issues that are so sensitive for us," said 30-year-old Martin Aguirre.

"That is why we really appreciate the gesture by Licha (Martinez) and Giovani Lo Celso. Even knowing they could face sanctions or other consequences, they still raised that flag."

Federico Schenone, 52, described the display as "a matter of history and legitimacy" rather than a political statement.

Although he did not directly address the banner, Argentina captain Lionel Messi reflected on the significance of the match after the victory.

"When you play a match of that magnitude, so many things come into play. History weighs on a game like that," Messi said.

-Reporting by Paul Childs and Nick Mulvenney in Atlanta and Candelaria Grimberg and Horacio Soria in Buenos Aires. Writing by Rosalba O'Brien. Editing by Christian Radnedge/Reuters