When England and Argentina met at the Estadio Azteca in 1986 for what became known as the ‘Hand of God’ game, the armed conflict between the two nations over the Falkland Islands four years earlier loomed large in the background.
In a 2019 documentary, Diego Maradona described the unpenalised handball that produced the iconic goal — or infamous one, depending on where you are from — as “symbolic revenge” for the Falklands War.
But 44 years on from the conflict, its most tangible impact on this World Cup has been that FIFA will not allow English referees Michael Oliver or Anthony Taylor to officiate the final if Argentina qualify.
Neither could have officiated today’s game because of England’s involvement, regardless of their opponents, as is standard for referees representing one of the competing nations.
Lionel Messi, the oldest player on the pitch today, was born three years after the Falklands War ended.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni was nevertheless asked about the political subplots after his side’s quarter-final win over Switzerland. He responded: “This is a football game. They have an excellent coach, and this is a football game, and that’s all.”
