Argentina is facing potential disciplinary action from Fifa after its players displayed a banner asserting their country's claim to the Falkland Islands following their World Cup semi-final victory over England. The defending world champions secured their place in Sunday's final by defeating England 2-1 in Atlanta.

After the match, Argentinian players celebrated by holding a banner that read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," which translates to "The Falklands are Argentine." This gesture is likely to fall under Fifa's rules regarding political action and team misconduct. The Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory, are the subject of a long-standing sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina, which led to a war in 1982.

This is not the first time Argentina has faced repercussions for displaying such a banner. In 2014, the Argentine Football Association was fined £20,000 by Fifa after players held up a banner with the same message before a friendly match. At that time, Fifa stated the action breached rules on political messages and team misconduct.

The implications of this latest incident could see Argentina fined or face other sanctions from the football governing body. The team's actions have also drawn political commentary, with Argentina's Vice President Victoria Villarruel posting on social media that the Falklands are Argentine and that the players "carry them in our blood and our hearts."

During the build-up to the semi-final match, Vice President Villarruel had also made comments about the game being about "putting the invaders in their place." This sentiment appeared to be echoed by some players who sang chants referencing the Falklands and Argentinian football legends following their earlier win against Egypt.

However, Argentina's manager, Lionel Scaloni, had previously stated his intention to keep football separate from politics. He had commented that "this is a football match" and that he did not want to "mix things up," particularly out of respect for the historical events. Scaloni emphasized that while they remember the people affected by the conflict, the focus should remain on the sport.

The semi-final match itself was a dramatic affair, with England succumbing to late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez. The victory sets up a final clash for Argentina against Spain.

Questions remain about the specific disciplinary measures Fifa will impose, given their previous actions in similar circumstances. The incident highlights the ongoing sensitivity surrounding the Falklands dispute and its intersection with international sporting events.