Rio de Janeiro: Argentina’s football association is facing disciplinary measures from FIFA after some national team players at a recent friendly unfurled a banner related to the dispute over the Falkland Islands.
Before the match a week ago against Slovenia, Argentine players stood behind a banner that read in Spanish: Las Malvinas son Argentinas — The Malvinas are Argentine.
FIFA on Friday said it was investigating the case, citing a statute that prohibits “provocative or aggressive actions” and another regulation dealing with team conduct.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has used the dispute to gain political support, bringing up a grievance shared by most Argentines. Britain and Argentina went to war in 1982 over the Falklands in the South Atlantic — an area known as Malvinas in Spanish.
Since the defeat Argentina has continued to raise the issue of sovereignty. FIFA said Argentina can provide their own evidence in the disciplinary case. It gave no indication of any timeframe or possible penalty.
