Football's world governing body, FIFA, is assessing match reports after Argentina's national team displayed a banner claiming sovereignty over the Falkland Islands during celebrations following their World Cup semi-final victory against England this week.

The banner, which prominently read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" (The Malvinas are Argentinian), was unfurled by players as they celebrated their 1-0 win over England, securing their place in the tournament final.

FIFA Disciplinary Committee to Review Incident

FIFA confirmed that its disciplinary committee will review the match reports and consider all relevant circumstances before deciding on any potential action. The organisation typically prohibits political statements and displays by teams during its tournaments.

The incident reignites a long-standing territorial dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the South Atlantic archipelago, which Argentina refers to as the Malvinas. The two nations fought a brief but bloody war over the islands in 1982, which ended with a British victory, though Argentina continues to press its claim.

UK Calls for FIFA Investigation

Following the display, the UK Business Secretary publicly called for a full investigation by FIFA. Such political gestures on the international sporting stage often draw scrutiny from global governing bodies, which aim to keep competitions free from political interference.

FIFA's regulations explicitly state that political messages are not permitted in its competitions. Past infractions have led to fines or other sanctions against national federations. The disciplinary committee's assessment will determine if the banner display constitutes a breach of these rules.

No timeline has been given for FIFA's decision, but the committee is expected to conclude its review in the coming days, ahead of the World Cup final.