Argentina fans have been warned they will be denied entry to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium for tonight’s World Cup semi-final against England if they attempt to smuggle in flags containing any reference to the Falkland Islands.
The outline of the British controlled territory is a regular inclusion on the blue and white flag with Argentina insisting the archipelago in the South Atlantic belongs to them.
The countries went to war over the Falklands in 1982, with over 900 people killed in the conflict, and they remained British, although it is still a major bone of contention.
The Argentina fans continue to sing songs about the Falklands – they call them Las Malvinas – as did the players following Saturday’s quarter-final win over Switzerland.
However, FIFA’s insistence of not allowing political slogans into the stadiums across the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer means there will be strict restrictions in place in Atlanta this evening.
“No-one will be allowed to enter with flags or political messages related to the Falklands,” Argentina’s security minister Alejandra Monteoliva said. “A flag, a t-shirt, a rag, anything that has a message with political content or racial provocation.”
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Scaloni plays down hostility as VP goes on bizarre rant ahead of England game
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni attempted to calm tensions at yesterday’s press conference, insisting: “The reality is that this is a football match. I can’t mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago.
“It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it, that’s the reality.”
Argentina’s vice-president Victoria Villaruel did not follow Scaloni’s lead, however, with a hugely antagonistic tweet that read: “Tomorrow we play against the usurping pirates. This isn’t just another match. I’m not going to be politically correct or cold-hearted; against the English, it’s always something more. It’s the Malvinas, it’s Diego [Maradona], it’s Leo’s [Messi] last one, go Argentina! Because until our last breath, we’re going to claim what’s ours!”
Atlanta Police have launched a major operation to quell any threat of trouble between the groups of supporters and there were no reported incidents in the city on Tuesday.
Over 1,600 officers are on the streets although there are concerns the main flashpoints will be inside the stadium with no segregation.
England and Argentina also share a long and controversial sporting rivalry.
In 1966, Argentina captain Antonio Rattin refused to leave the field after collecting two yellow cards in three first-half minutes against England at Wembley, meaning the game was held up for eight minutes. Afterwards, Three Lions boss Alf Ramsey described the Argentine side as “animals”.
In 1986, the infamous ‘Hand of God’ enabled eventual winners Argentina to squeeze past England and into the World Cup semi-finals. The goal itself was a handball from Maradona, the former Napoli and Barcelona star punching the ball into the net. Maradona then added a brilliant second, picking the ball up on the halfway line and dribbling past the England defence before rounding goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
Then in 1998, the World Cup meeting in St Etienne was level at 2-2 when David Beckham flicked out at Diego Simeone. The Argentina midfielder went down clutching his leg and Beckham was sent-off by referee Kim Milton Nielsen. Argentina went on to win on penalties with Simeone later admitting “the referee fell into the trap”.
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