Argentina veterans ask fans to focus for England semifinal

Ahead of a highly anticipated World Cup semifinal, a major Argentine veterans group has called for the focus to remain on football, urging supporters not to use the match against England as a platform for political claims over the South Atlantic islands known as the Falklands to Britain and the Malvinas to Argentina. The April 2 War Veterans Federation issued a statement on Monday, July 13, emphasizing that the sporting event is not an armed rematch nor historical compensation for the 1982 conflict over the islands, which claimed the lives of 649 Argentine and 255 British military personnel. The group urged fans to honor the memory of fallen soldiers without promoting hatred or xenophobia, stating that sovereignty is defended through diplomacy and peaceful, constitutional claims.

The call comes after footage emerged of Argentina's players celebrating their quarterfinal victory over Switzerland on July -12 with chants referencing the Malvinas. The squad was filmed singing, "For the Malvinas, for Diego, for Leo's last one," a line from a popular fan song that also honors Argentine football legends Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. Players and fans were also seen joining in a...