×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Fifa fines Argentina for protest banner

FIFA fined and reprimanded the Argentine football association on Friday because its national team players were pictured with a political banner before a World Cup warm-up match in June.

FIFA imposed a fine of 30,000 Swiss francs ($33,000) - the second financial penalty this month for the World Cup finalists.

Several players stood behind the slogan "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" (The Falklands are Argentine) on the field at a June 7 friendly against Slovenia in Buenos Aires.

Argentina and Britain went to war in 1982 over the Falkland Islands, called the Malvinas in Spanish. The islands have been a British territory since 1833.

FIFA rules prohibit political statements at matches it controls.

At the World Cup, FIFA also ordered a 300,000 Swiss francs ($340,000) fine for failure to bring Argentina players to pre-match news conferences.

Still, FIFA is set to pay the Argentine federation $25 million in World Cup prize money.

 

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.