White House defends Argentina players' Falklands banner after World Cup semi-final win

The White House defended Argentina's national football team after players displayed a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" ("The Falklands are Argentine") following their World Cup semi-final victory over England, as Britain condemned the move and Fifa considered possible disciplinary action.

Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Fifa task force, said the players were exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech while in the United States, says the BBC.

The banner refers to Argentina's long-standing claim over the South Atlantic islands, known in English as the Falkland Islands and in Spanish as Las Malvinas.

Britain's government criticised the display, with Downing Street saying the Falkland Islands "definitely are" British and backing calls for Fifa to investigate whether the banner breached the governing body's rules against political statements during matches.

The government of the Falkland Islands also expressed disappointment and called on Fifa to sanction the Argentine team, saying it did not wish to be used as a "political football".

Fifa is considering disciplinary action over the incident, as the banner may violate its regulations prohibiting political messages during official competitions.

Argentina's Vice-President Victoria Villarruel backed the team's actions in a social media post, saying the islands are "carried in our blood and our hearts".

The Falkland Islands have been at the centre of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina for decades. The two countries fought a 74-day war over the territory in 1982.

In a 2013 referendum, Falkland Islands residents voted 1,513 to 3 to remain a British Overseas Territory. Argentina rejects the referendum as a basis for determining sovereignty.