The new rule that could see Argentina have Falkland Islands on football shirts | World | News
A new rule would mean Argentina would have an image of the Falkland Islands on its national football team’s shirts. A Bill was presented by Carlos Castagneto, a national deputy from the Union for the Fatherland party, in opposition to President Javier Milei’s government, which would introduce a “National Identity Regime for Argentine Sports Clothing”. This would mandate that a representation of the Falkland Islands, which Argentines call the Malvinas Islands; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands would be included on the clothing of the national sports teams delegations.
Castagneto told Radio 750 that this would include “all athletes, teams, national teams, and delegations participating in official representation of the Argentine Republic”. He added that he would like them to display “a visible, clear, and prominent identification of the Falkland Islands”. It comes as FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina’s football association and its players after they allegedly breached its regulations at the World Cup.
This includes holding up a banner claiming sovereignty over the Falklands after the team’s victory over England in the semi-final.
Officials said using the global event for demonstrations of a non-sport related nature was a potential breach of FIFA’s disciplinary code.
Castagneto added, according to Argentine news site El Sureño: “I think that carrying the flag and defending our sovereignty, as (the Argentine National Team) did in the last World Cup, with that banner that mobilised so much, is to bring back to the forefront for young people that it is not only the song for the Falklands, for Diego and for Leo’s latest song, but the national feeling that the Falklands are and must be Argentine.”
The Bill has been presented in the Chamber of Deputies, he said and is now with the Defence and Sports Committee.
It is thought that the National Undersecretariat of Sports would implement the Bill if it were agreed.
The politican added that he will submit an article for joint consideration to see if he can give the idea “visibility and speed”.
Everyone should “understand that this isn’t about a political party or a person, but rather a matter of national identity”, Castagneto said.
An Argentine veteran of the Falklands War previously told The Express that England fans “have no reason to be angry” about the players holding up the banner.
Ernesto Alonso, 63, who served in the 1st Platoon, B Company, 7th Infantry Regiment, said: “We Argentines must comply with and enforce a constitutional mandate: the First Transitory Provision of the National Constitution.”
