Daily Mail reported that the Football Association has issued an order on the players and staff members of the official England team for the 2014 World Cup to not react or stoke the dispute over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. The order was issued after the Argentinian team led by coach Alejandro Sabella reportedly held up an inflammatory banner ahead of its 2-0 win over the Slovenians on Saturday.
The banner read, "Las Malvinas son Argentinas (the Falklands are ours)."
FIFA bans the display of political slogans or statements in the World Cup tournament. The team will reportedly be fined for the offense. Moreover, Belfast Telegraph said the world soccer organization has also instructed its lawyers to review the incident.
Argentina has been disputing the sovereignty of the contested islands, which lie around 1,200 miles east of Buenos Aires. The country began to launch another political campaign to establish ownership over the islands after Britain started drilling for oil in the area. Moreover, Argentina's political slogan about the Falklands is observed to be always displayed in international matches, showing an apparent support of the team about the country's stance of its claims over the islands. The Falklands have been ruled by the UK since 1833, Belfast Telegraph said.
There are only four players in the official team of England who were alive during the initial conflict in the early 80s, Daily Mail observed. The Falklands war caused the deaths of under a thousand military personnel from both countries and three Islanders from the war.
The FA reportedly gave the warning to every member of the staff after England's 0-0 draw with Honduras in Brazil to not answer questions regarding the Falklands. The message was said to be part of a briefing that was written on a giant flip chart to the players in the dressing room.
