BREAKING: Lorraine Kelly slams ‘shameful’ Argentinian players over Falklands banner
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Lorraine Kelly issued a furious statement (Image: ITV)
Lorraine Kelly has lashed out at the Argentinian football team after the players displayed a controversial banner.
England’s World Cup dreams came to an end on Wednesday night, when they lost 2-1 to Argentina.
Lionel Messi will now be leading his team into his third World Cup final, with the final against Spain taking place on Sunday.
Amid the heartbreak from English fans, Argentinian players were seen brandishing a banner as they celebrated, which read: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas,” translated to: “The Falklands are Argentinian”.
Fans have been left furious at the political reference, with ITV host Lorraine among those slamming it.
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FIFA has responded after Argentina players unfurled a Falklands banner (Image: Getty Images)
“SHAMEFUL!!” she fumed, in a post on Instagram.
She continued: “FIFA should throw the book at them. What an insult to the Falkland Islanders and to all our brave British armed forces who fought in the Falklands War. I hope Spain give them a right humping in the final.”
One follower replied: “They should be disqualified for this.”
Another said: “If FIFA don’t take action regarding this then it’s clear that the game is rigged.”
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Lionel Messi has taken Argentina into his third World Cup final (Image: Getty Images)
“Well said Lorraine”, someone else wrote, as another said: “Just appalling behaviour. This action should be more than a fine! It was Premeditated and causing painful memories for so many.”
The banner has sparked outrage, and warnings of a possible Fifa fine.
In a statement, a Fifa spokesperson 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.”
Downing Street has also supported calls for an investigation, with a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.”
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England suffered a heartbreaking loss (Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
The government of The Falkland Islands also said it was “disappointed” about the banner and hopes Fifa will “sanction all behaviour of this nature in line with its own rules”. They added that “we do not wish to see politics being brought into sport”.
The Falklands, a British overseas territory, is 300 miles off Argentina’s east coast, and has been caught in a decades-long dispute, with Argentina going to war in 1982 before surrendering to British forces.
After a 2014 match, the Argentinian team sparked a £20,000 fine after brandishing a similar banner.
