Milei slams Argentina’s Malvinas flag display, likens players to Elvis
In a packed stadium, the Argentine Selección unfurled a massive Malvinas flag as they faced Inglaterra, a moment that sparked cheers across the crowd. President Javier Milei, however, seized the scene to launch a scathing critique, invoking Maradona’s 1986 goal as a backdrop to his remarks.
As expected, Milei gave a new interview in which he revisited the flag of the Islas Malvinas that the Selección Argentina displayed against Inglaterra, noting that it had become a national symbol – but not for him, as he condemned the actions of the world‑champion and runner‑up footballers.
In a not‑very‑lucid act, the PRESIDENTE compared the players’ attitude to that of Elvis Presley, his favourite singer, recalling that "Fue consultado por la guerra de Vietnam en una entrevista. Él le dijo que no opinaba de política, que es alguien que se dedica al entretenimiento." The reference to Elvis and Vietnam underscored Milei’s view of the episode as entertainment rather than politics.
Milei added, "No está bueno mezclar agua con aceite, es un deporte, un juego," and highlighted Lionel Scaloni, saying, "Estoy en la misma línea que manifestó Scaloni." He framed football as a pure sport, separate from diplomatic discourse.
He then turned to the broader political arena, stating, "Los jugadores lo pueden hacer, por las emociones del momento. Eso no le puede pasar a un político, porque puede haber declaraciones similares a declarar una guerra." Milei argued that politicians cannot act on fleeting emotions the way players might.
Recalling Diego Maradona’s famous goal against Inglaterra in 1986, Milei said, "Hay que guardar la compostura. El gol de Maradona a los ingleses, cualquiera de los dos, no devolvieron las Malvinas." He used the historic moment to stress composure while downplaying the symbolic weight of the 10’s achievement.
Concluding, Milei claimed his government had advanced the recovery of the islands through diplomacy, noting that "Hicimos que la UN obligue a Inglaterra a que se siente a hablar, eso ya sucedió. Es tal la forma que hacemos el trabajo diplomático que Estados Unidos se manifestó a nuestro favor, China y parte de Inglaterra lo considera." He labeled the players’ celebration imprudent, reiterating, "Las Malvinas son argentinas y las vamos a recuperar en el plano diplomático."