Rio de Janeiro: FIFA said on Saturday it has launched an inquiry into Argentina's "provocative" unfurling of a banner laying claim to the Falkland islands at a friendly game just before the World Cup.

The head of FIFA's disciplinary committee said the gesture was an "apparent breach" of regulations on "prevention of provocative and aggressive actions," according to a FIFA statement.

Argentina could be fined for the banner proclaiming 'Las Malvinas Son Argentinas (The Malvinas are Argentinian)' at the end of the inquiry, officials said.