Argentina files complaint over 'illegal' Royal Navy warship near Falklands in statement released after World Cup semi-final win over England

By PERKIN AMALARAJ, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 09:30, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 09:54, 16 July 2026 Argentina has filed a formal protest over a Royal Navy warship's 'illegal' movement near the Falkland Islands.  In a statement released just hours after England's World Cup loss against Argentina last night, the nation's foreign ministry accused HMS Medway of making an 'unconsulted and illegal' passage through Argentine territorial waters, alleging a lack of proper notification. Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno said the Medway, which is based in the Falkland Islands, violated bilateral agreements in a July 13-dated diplomatic note of protest submitted to the United Kingdom's embassy in Buenos Aires. 'In diplomacy, work is not shouted about like goals, but we are driven by the same conviction: the pride of being Argentine and the constant defence of our interests,' Quirno said in a post to X. HMS Medway is a Batch 2 River-class patrol vessel that is stationed on the Falkland Islands.  It was made the Royal Navy's permanent guard ship in the region in January, taking over from HMS Forth.  The vessel is tasked with maritime patrols and fishery protection. Ahead of the pivotal match, which saw England lose 2-1 at the eleventh hour, Argentina's vice president Victoria Villarruel urged her nation to 'claim what's ours' back from 'the usurping pirates'. Argentina accused HMS Medway (pictured) of making an 'unconsulted and illegal' passage through Argentine territorial waters The animosity dates back principally to a ten-week war in 1982, when an Argentinian invasion of the Falklands was seen off by the British – at the cost of 907 lives. It spilled over into football four years later when Maradona scored his infamous 'hand of God' goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final clash. He used his fist to put the opening goal past England, allowing Argentina to win 2-1 and go on to claim the World Cup trophy. Quirno earlier claimed the people living on the islands had been 'artificially implanted' – and that a referendum on British sovereignty was illegitimate.  Falklanders were asked in a 2013 ballot whether they wanted the islands to remain under British rule, with 99.8 per cent voting yes.   Tensions were so high ahead of last night's match that FIFA classified the fixture as 'highest risk' after a meeting with the FBI.  Following last night's match, Argentina's players carried a controversial banner claiming that the Falklands belonged to their nation.  Despite FIFA's ban on political flags, Tottenham captain Cristian Romero, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez and ex-Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso celebrated with the controversial sign after the final whistle. Lisandro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso, who have played for clubs in the Premier League, celebrate with a banner claiming the Falkland Islands  Captain and star player Lionel Messi was also seen dancing alongside the banner after his team beat the Three Lions 2-1 in Atlanta. Shocking footage taken from the stands showed the Argentinian team holding their fingers to their lips before shushing the crowd and raising the Falklands banner aloft. Lo Celso later laid the banner on the pitch as the team taunted the English fans.  UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle, said today it was 'entirely inappropriate' to wave the banner, praising England for acting with dignity in ‘real contrast with what we saw with the Argentina team’. Tory shadow minister Andrew Griffith said: 'Labour’s Chagos surrender has made us look weak, and British territory up for grabs. The Falklands are British. Whoever won the football. This idiotic display from the Argies was clearly against FIFA rules. They should be punished.' FIFA has yet to comment, but the governing body is under huge pressure to punish Argentina for flouting its rules with an incendiary banner backing the country's claim to the Falkland Islands. Manchester United and Spurs are being urged to punish Romero and Martinez.  Despite this, Argentine president Javier Milei told local broadcaster Radio Mitre that the World Cup victory was just 'a football match.' 'We are making enormous progress on the diplomatic front. We have managed to get the UN to force England to sit down and talk with us, but let's not confuse the score: This is a football match,' Milei said, after celebrating the team's 'glorious step' in advancing to the World Cup finals. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford sobs at the final whistle after England came within minutes of progressing to the World Cup final Captain Harry Kane comforts goal scorer Anthony Gordon after the final whistle following their 2-1 defeat to Argentina Argentina and the United Kingdom went to war over the South Atlantic archipelago in 1982, in a conflict that left 649 Argentines and 255 Britons dead.  Argentina will face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday in New Jersey. The Daily Mail has contacted the Ministry of Defence for comment.