Argentina’s vice president has injected politics into their country’s recent World Cup victory against England by asserting Argentina’s claim over the Falkland Islands. Victoria Villarruel, whose father fought in the Falklands War, shared a photo of Argentina players holding a banner on the pitch that stated “Las Malvinas son Argentinas,” translating to “The Malvinas (Falkland Islands) belong to Argentina.”
In a social media post following the team’s win over England, Villarruel emphasized, “The Falklands are Argentine! They prohibited us from bringing them to the stadium, but we carry them in our blood and hearts.” Despite FIFA’s regulations against displaying political messages, some Argentine players openly expressed their support for the Malvinas, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi.
Leading up to the match, Villarruel made several posts highlighting the Falklands issue, underscoring the significance of the game against the “usurping pirates.” The politician, associated with the ultranationalist La Libertad Avanza party, spoke passionately about the historical significance of the match, which eventually escalated into on-field altercations between the two nations.
Although Argentina’s manager, Lionel Scaloni, aimed to steer clear of politics, players like Lisandro Martinez and Lo Celso proudly displayed the banner to the fans post-victory, joined by their teammates including Messi, Exequiel Palacios, and Alexis Mac Allister. The dispute over British sovereignty of the Falklands, referred to as Las Malvinas by Argentina, stems from past conflicts and tensions.
The Falkland Islands, initially claimed by the British in 1765, have been a point of contention, culminating in the 1982 conflict that resulted in Argentina’s surrender and significant casualties on both sides. Despite the historical backdrop, a 2013 referendum revealed overwhelming support among islanders to maintain their status as a UK overseas territory.
