UK work permits for Argentine stars Mac Allister and Martínez questioned

After Argentina defeated England 2‑1 in the World Cup semi‑final, Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez displayed a flag reading “Falkland Islands are Argentine”. The gesture sparked a backlash in the United Kingdom, prompting the players to hire private security to guard their homes.

Former British adviser Nile Gardiner called for the revocation of their UK work permits, describing the act as “anti‑British”. The British government has asked FIFA to investigate the incident. Neither Liverpool nor Manchester United were involved in financing the security measures, and no attacks on the players’ properties have been reported.