The United Kingdom government has backed calls for FIFA to investigate the conduct of Argentina’s players following England’s World Cup exit and outlined its support for Spain in Sunday’s final.

Several members of Lionel Scaloni’s squad – including Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez and Tottenham’s Cristian Romero – held up a banner following Argentina’s 2-1 victory in Atlanta that read: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” which translates to the Falklands are Argentine.

The Falkland Islands is a British occupied territory in the South Atlantic Ocean that Argentina continue to claim sovereignty over. The two countries went to war in 1982 with Argentina invading, only to surrender following the deaths of 907 people with the overwhelming majority Argentinian.

Argentina’s players chanted about the islands following the win over Switzerland on Saturday and then went a step further after beating England in the semi-finals at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

By holding up the banner, they breached FIFA rules relating to political messaging and the world game’s governing body now have to decide whether to punish the Argentinian Football Association.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.”

UK government demand FIFA probe into Malvinas flag

Business secretary Peter Kyle this morning demanded FIFA take action and No 10 backed that stance with the spokesperson stating they would “echo that position”, adding: “Any action taken is a matter for FIFA, I’ll leave it for them. I’d point you to the business secretary’s words this morning.”

Asked who outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer would be backing in the final, the spokesperson said: “The PM wishes both teams well for the final, especially Spain.”

It is not the first time Argentina’s players have expressed their belief that the Falkland Islands belong to them. Prior to a World Cup warm-up match against Slovenia in La Plata in 2014, a similar banner was paraded by the whole squad. They were fined £20,000 at the time by FIFA.