White House official defends Argentina’s use of Falklands banner

The White House’s World Cup task force head defended Argentina’s national soccer team after they displayed a banner asserting the country’s territorial claim to the Falkland Islands, long a source of tension with the United Kingdom, after their semi-final win over England.

Executive director of the White House’s World Cup task force Andrew Giuliani said Argentina’s players had the right to wave the banner, which read: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas,” meaning, “The Falklands are Argentine.”

“We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America,” Giuliani told Sky News during a press conference when asked about his thoughts on the banner. “In terms of the ability and opportunity to be able to make those statements, they have the ability to do that in the United States.”

The banner was initially held by fans before being carried out onto the field by players during the team’s celebrations. It represented Argentina’s longstanding claim........

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