White House Fifa taskforce chief defends Argentina footballers, saying US believes in free speech The White House has backed Argentina’s footballers who displayed a banner supporti…

White House Fifa taskforce chief defends Argentina footballers, saying US believes in free speech The White House has backed Argentina’s footballers who displayed a banner supporting their country’s claim to the Falklands Islands after their World Cup semi-final victory against England. After Argentina’s 2-1 win in a fractious match in Atlanta on Wednesday, some players held up a banner that said: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” – using the country’s term for the South Atlantic islands. Keir Starmer supported calls for Fifa to investigate the incident on Friday and appeared to back Spain in the upcoming World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday. But Andrew Giuliani, the head of the White House Fifa taskforce, defended Argentina’s players, saying the US believed in free speech. Giuliani said: “We believe in our first amendment rights here in the United States of America.” He added that Argentina’s players would have the “opportunity to be able to make statements” in the US. The intervention may prove awkward for Andy Burnham as he prepares to take over as British prime minister on Monday. England and Argentina are to play against each other in rugby’s Nations Championship on Saturday in Argentina and England players have threatened to walk off if any players are subject to racist abuse. When asked on Thursday for Starmer’s reaction to the sign, his spokesperson said: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our position is unchanged. Self-determination rests with the islanders and our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.