WASHINGTON: The White House has defended the Argentina national football team’s right to express its views after players displayed a banner supporting Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands following their FIFA World Cup semifinal victory over England in the United States.

The incident has prompted FIFA to review whether the display breached its rules prohibiting political messages during official competitions.

Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House FIFA Task Force, said United States constitutional protections for free speech allow individuals to express their views.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom government backed calls for a FIFA investigation, while the Falkland Islands government also urged football authorities to enforce regulations separating politics from sport.

The sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory, has remained unresolved for decades.