I thought sports wasn't political. It appears I am wrong. I watched the Argentina/England FIFA game the other day. I was cheering for England but knew the best team will win. I'm sure my UK relatives won't agree with me, Argentina was superior.
I always watch the national anthems. I didn't even realize they were playing God Save the King until they showed the players mouthing the words. I had no sound, but I was having problems with my TV. When the Argentina national anthem was sung I heard it. I found out Argentina's fans were chanting during the UK anthem! Pretty disrepectful.
Then I read this that really disturbed me:
England’s national anthem was drowned out by Argentinian boos and chants before Three Lions fans repaid the gesture as tensions boiled over before their seismic World Cup semi-final even kicked off.
Sharing a storied footballing rivalry, this last-four clash also has a sharp historical edge to it, with conflict over the Falkland Islands forming part of the narrative going into the match in Atlanta.
Argentina invaded the British Overseas Territory in 1982 but emphatically lost the Falklands War in 74 days, which claimed the lives of 907 people: 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 from Britain and three Falkland Islanders.
Argentina still vehemently believe that the archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, which sits 300 miles away from its east coast, should be under its sovereignty, with the cause enshrined in much of the country’s culture, including its football.
As the players lined up around the centre-circle for the national anthems, Argentina fans were deafening with their chants of “whoever doesn't jump is English”, before heavily booing “God Save the King”.
