ISTANBUL / Ahmed Hassan / Anadolu Agency

A British government minister on Thursday said he expects FIFA to launch an investigation after Argentine players celebrated their win over England by raising a banner supporting their country's claim to the disputed Falkland Islands.

According to the BBC, Minister of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle called the Argentine banner "completely inappropriate," adding that he expects FIFA to conduct a full inquiry.

Kyle said on BBC Breakfast: "I think the investigation will definitely happen; because it was a blatant violation of the rules that there should be no political activity as part of football."

Argentina, the 2022 World Cup champion, staged a dramatic late comeback against England in Atlanta, scoring twice to win 2-1 and book a spot against Spain in Sunday's final.

After the final whistle, Argentine players celebrated holding a banner that read: "The Falkland Islands are Argentine." The islands are a British Overseas Territory in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, and their sovereignty is disputed between Argentina and Britain.

The Falkland Islands are administered as a British Overseas Territory, with self-government, while London handles defense and foreign affairs. Argentina insists on its sovereignty over them as part of its territory inherited from Spanish colonialism.

This deep-rooted dispute led to the Falklands War in 1982, which ended with the surrender of Argentine forces and the islands remaining under British rule.

In 2014, FIFA fined the Argentine Football Association 20,000 pounds sterling (23,500 euros) after its players held a banner with the same message before a friendly match against Slovenia, saying the gesture violated rules banning political activity and constituted misconduct by the team.

After Argentina's win on Wednesday, Vice President Victoria Villarruel posted on X (formerly Twitter): "It wasn't just another game," alongside a video appearing to show Argentine soldiers.

Villarruel added: "The Falkland Islands are Argentine. They prevented us from bringing it into the stadium, and they forgot that we carry it in our blood and hearts."

Before the match, Villarruel said: "We are playing against thieving pirates; because this is not a normal match, and I will not be diplomatic or back down. Playing against the English has a deeper meaning."

She continued: "It's the Falkland Islands, it's Diego (meaning Maradona), it's another battle for Leo (Messi), and it's about stopping the invaders. Go Argentina; because we will demand our rights until our last breath."

Argentine players also chanted references to the Falkland Islands and legends Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi after their thrilling 3-2 win over Egypt in the round of 16.

But before the semifinal, coach Lionel Scaloni stressed that he would "not mix" football and politics, saying: "The truth is it's a football match. I can't change things."

He explained: "It was a very sad period in our history, and there's not much we can do about it. That's the truth."

Scaloni added: "There are events happening elsewhere in the world, and we criticize the existence of war, and we certainly remember those people, but it's just a football match, and we shouldn't mix things up."

The semifinal, which England lost after conceding two late goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez, was played under tight security due to historical tensions between the two countries.