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An SNP politician has been accused of “disrespect” towards the Scots who died in the Falklands War in a post celebrating Argentina’s World Cup victory. Lara Bird, SNP MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, joked about “cross party cooperation” between Scotland and Argentina after England was beaten 2-1 in the semi-final on Wednesday.

Social media commentators were quick to remind her of the eight members of the Scots Guards who were killed protecting the Falklands’ sovereignty in the 1982 conflict, alongside Scottish-born members of other regiments. Tensions flared after the march when Argentinian players held up a banner declaring the UK overseas territory to be Argentinian, a move for which they are expected to face disciplinary action.

Responding to Ms Bird’s post, which she shared alongside a photo of herself and Scottish Labour MP Euan Stainbank and both a Scottish and Argentinian flag, one X user wrote: “Shameful and disrespectful to the Scottish soldiers who died fighting in the Falklands.”

Another said: “We used to have statesmen and stateswomen in politics. Now we have performative childish nonsense like this.”

A third labelled the pair “pathetic” and a fourth called them “an embarrassment to Scotland”.

“What an insult to the Scots who lost their lives fighting that lot,” another wrote. “Disgraceful.”

The Falkland Islands have been a UK overseas territory since the early 19th century, with Argentinian forces invading the archipelago in April 1982 before being forced to surrender by June of the same year.

The islanders, who are based roughly 300 miles off the coast of Argentina, voted overwhelmingly to remain British in 2013.

A spokesperson for the Falkland Islands Government expressed its disappointment at the Argentine football team for their post-match message on Thursday.

They said: “It is hardly news to anyone that the people of the Islands were victims of an aggressive invasion in 1982, which left many traumatised. The banner displayed by Argentina last night, therefore, was particularly insensitive for many people in the Falklands.

“It is the avowed policy of the Falkland Islands Government that we do not wish to see politics being brought into sport … We hope Fifa will make good on their promise to keep politics out of sport, and sanction all behaviour of this nature in line with its own rules.”

Bird, who was sworn in as an MP last month, was ridiculed online amid claims that she had put on a Scottish accent after social media users spotted a difference between her voice in the House of Commons and in previous online clips.

The 28-year-old spoke in a distinctly Scottish accent during the swearing-in ceremony, but previous videos shared to her social media accounts sound noticeably more English. Ms Bird has previously attributed her mix of intonations to time spent in London and having an English parent.

The Express has contacted Lara Bird and Euan Stainbank for comment.