Argentine President Javier Milei has backed the players over a controversial banner that could put the team in trouble with FIFA.
The reigning champions put in another superb late show against England to win 2-1 from 1-0 down.
The match had some extra tension behind it due to the Falklands war in 1982 when Argentina were defeated after invading a British overseas territory.
Diego Maradona famously was inspired by the loss of 649 military personnel when he scored his double in the 1986 ‘Game of the Century’.
Argentina players risk FIFA problems with Falklands message
40 years later the same feelings were dismissed pre-match, but then the players rubbished the idea with a post-match banner that read: ‘Las Malvinas (Falkland Islands) are Argentine‘.
FIFA have opened an investigation over the banner as Article 34.3 of the World Cup rules prohibits the display of any political messages or slogans by players before, during or after a match.
Their populist president Milei, defended the players’ right to show the banner, but agreed that football and politics shouldn’t mix.
Argentina president defends players
Speaking on El Observador radio, he said: “It is a feeling that lives in all Argentinians, and it is perfectly legitimate and valid that they (the players) want to express it and do so.
“However, I don’t believe this should lead to misinterpretations or misunderstandings. A football match is a football match.
“That’s how the coach (Lionel Scaloni) understood it, that’s how the veterans understood it.”
He then made a comment that will have alerted the British government.
He continued: “Indeed, the Falkland Islands are Argentinian, and we are going to reclaim them.
“But we will do it diplomatically, with intelligence in our actions.
“There has been enormous progress made by my diplomacy, which has ensured that the UN compelled England to come and sit down with us to discuss the matter.”
Earlier, straight after the match, Milei appeared far more condemnatory of the players’ actions.
“Let’s not mix things up. The Falklands War is being resolved through wise diplomacy, not through cheap patriotic gestures,” he stated on Radio Mitre.
Paredes explains Argentina’s Falklands message
Commenting on the banner, key midfielder Leandro Parades said: “It’s a sad part of our history for everyone involved in that chapter of our history.
“We knew we were playing for them too, for all the people, for our entire nation. I believe we did it in the best possible way.
“We always wanted to convey that for us it wasn’t just a football match.
“We were aware it wasn’t just that and it was very important for our entire country and I think we feel immense joy.”
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