RIO DE JANEIRO: Argentina face disciplinary action from world federation FIFA because their players paraded a ‘Malvinas claim’ banner before the World Cup warm-up friendly against Slovenia on June 7 in La Plata.

FIFA and the law-making International Association Football Board have sought over the past two years to tighten the rules and reguations barring any sort of extraneous message – whether commercial, religious, personal or political – on or in or beneath players’ kit.

Uncertainty existed over the gesture by Argentina’s players because it was undertaken before the game, albeit the players were in their match kit. The banner proclaimed: Las Malvinas son Argentinas.

The United Kingdom government insists that the Falklands were claimed for Britain before the Argentinian state existed and that the population wish to remain British.

A FIFA statement explained: “The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to open disciplinary proceedings based on an apparent breach of art. 60 of the FIFA Stadium and Security Regulations (‘Prevention of provocative and aggressive actions’) and art. 52 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (‘Team Misconduct’).

“The Argentina FA has been invited to provide its position to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, together with any documentary evidence it might deem appropriate.”

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