During an interview, President Javier Milei of Argentina criticized the national team's use of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) flag after their victory over England in the World Cup semifinals. He argued that sports should not be mixed with political issues and maintained that the recovery of the archipelago must be pursued exclusively through diplomatic means.
Milei drew a parallel to Elvis Presley, stating: 'Presley was once asked about the Vietnam War during an interview; he replied that he did not engage in politics as his profession is entertainment.' He further elaborated on this point by saying, 'It’s not appropriate to mix oil and water. This is a sport, a game.'
The president also aligned with Lionel Scaloni's stance, the coach of the national team, stating: 'I am in line with what Scaloni has said.' Milei then differentiated between the roles of players and political leaders, asserting that while players can express emotions during games, politicians should not make such statements as they could lead to serious consequences.
He also referenced Diego Maradona’s historic goals against England in 1986, stating: 'We must maintain composure. Maradona's goals, whether it was the first or second one, did not return the Falkland Islands to us.'
Milei highlighted that his administration has made progress on the international front regarding the sovereignty of the islands. He noted, 'We have advanced in the recovery through diplomacy. We made the UN force England to sit down and talk; this already happened. The way we conduct diplomatic work has even gotten the support of the United States, China, and part of England.'
The statements come after similar criticisms he had previously made regarding the team's celebration with the traditional 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas' chant following their match against England. He reiterated that players are not part of diplomacy and that such actions are imprudent.
He concluded by emphasizing, 'Fortunately, these impertinent statements come from insignificant people who no one pays attention to. We must not mix sports with politics. A football game is a football game, and certain errors are unacceptable. The Falkland Islands are Argentine, and we will recover them through diplomacy.'
