Argies invoke Belgrano spirit

ARGENTINA is ramping up the anti-British atmosphere as the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War looms in April – and football is not immune.

THE BELGRANO Sunk during the Falklands War THE BELGRANO: Sunk during the Falklands War

The Argentine government has named the leagues in their upcoming football season in honour of their battleship, the General Belgrano, which was sunk by British torpedoes in the conflict.

Their top league, which begins on Friday, will be known as the Cruiser General Belgrano First Division.

The government owns broadcast rights to First Division matches which are shown on free-to-air TV. Advertising during match coverage is often used to promote government policies. And the political rulers say the Falklands, which they call Las Islas Malvinas, belong to Argentina.

Argentina lost 649 servicemen in the war and, of those, 323 were crew members on the Belgrano.

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