Fifa launches match probe before deciding whether to punish Argentina after disgraceful players wave Falklands banner

FIFA has launched a match probe into Argentina’s deplorable Falkland Islands banner act as it weighs up punishing the shameless side. The defending World Cup champions sparked fury for waving a vulgar sign saying “The Falklands are Argentinian” after beating England 2-1 in the semi-final. Fifa said it is “assessing match reports” as part of “standard procedure” in response to the despicable act by Lionel Messi and Co. But officials have not yet commented on whether a formal investigation will be launched. Argentina‘s squad celebrated their dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over the Three Lions by brazenly brandishing the factually incorrect Falklands sign. A spokesperson for the football body said: “As is standard procedure, Fifa’s independent Disciplinary Committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the FIFA Disciplinary Code.” READ MORE WORLD CUP Under Fifa’s disciplinary code, political gestures of this nature usually result in financial penalties rather than sporting sanctions. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) will most likely face a hefty fine, alongside a formal warning about future conduct. In 2014, the AFA were fined £20,000 by Fifa for holding a similar banner before a friendly against Slovenia. The football body said at the time that the tasteless act had broken rules on political action and team misconduct. Most read in Sport Downing Street has backed calls for Argentina to be hit with some form of punishment from Fifa for the abhorrent display. A statement from No10 on the controversy read: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.” The Falklands Islands’ own government has even slammed the crass banner – calling it disappointing but hardly surprising. They said: “The Falklands government is disappointed – though regrettably not surprised – that the Argentine football team decided to tarnish the result of last night’s World Cup football semi-final – a game that did not in any case involve the Falkland Islands. “That said, it is hardly news to anyone that the people of the Islands were victims of an aggressive invasion in 1982, which left many traumatised. “The banner displayed by Argentina last night, therefore, was particularly insensitive for many people in the Falklands.” Prior to kick-off, Argentina fans had been warned not to enter Atlanta Stadium with flags containing any reference to the Falklands. The country’s National Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva confirmed it would be considered “political content”. She said: “Argentine or English flags are permitted, but nothing that contains any message that could provoke any kind of incident. “It will not be possible to enter with bottles or with any item that contains a provocative message: political, hateful, or promoting racial or religious intolerance.” However, when later quizzed about the restrictions, U-turning Monteoliva said: “You can’t ban a chant or silence people.” This comes after Argentina furiously protested a Royal Navy warship sailing through its waters near the Falkland Islands. Buenos Aires lodged a seething complaint after HMS Medway, an offshore patrol ship, sailed to and from the Antarctic. London insisted the voyage complied with maritime law and the Argentinian government was warned long in advance. Argentina’s cowardly players are also looking to dodge punishment before it arrives by pointing the finger at their own supporters. When quizzed on the vile display, spineless defender Gonzalo Montiel claimed: “They just threw one down from the stands and the boys grabbed it.” Argentina’s madcap president has even backed up the team and boasted that they’ll probably only receive a fine for their pathetic behaviour. Nationalist firebrand Javier Milei spewed: “It is perfectly valid and legitimate for the players to want to express themselves and do so.” The Falkland Islands is a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean 300 miles off Argentina’s east coast. Britain has had control of the islands since winning a bitter war to defend them from Buenos Aires in 1982, after Argentina invaded and occupied the territory. The conflict claimed the lives of 255 UK servicemen, three islanders, and 649 Argentine personnel.