ZURICH (AP) — FIFA has reprimanded the Argentine soccer association and fined it $33,000 after its players were pictured with a political banner before a World Cup warmup match.
Several players stood behind the slogan “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (The Falklands are Argentine) on the field at a June 7 exhibition 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.
It’s the second time this month FIFA has fined the Argentine body. A $340,000 fine was ordered for failing to bring Argentina players to pre-match news conferences at the World Cup.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
