FIFA investigating Brazil-Chile scuffle

FIFA's disciplinary committee is investigating reports that Brazil's press director hit Chile's Mauricio Pinilla in a first-half scuffle during the team's round of 16 encounter in Belo Horizonte, the world football governing body said.

"We can confirm that an incident took place yesterday. FIFA's disciplinary committee is investigating the matter," FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer said.

"Their press director hit Pinilla. There is a video of this," Chilean team spokesman Maria Jose Vasconcellos had said on Saturday (Sunday AEST).

Brazilian press director Rodrigo Paiva retorted that there had simply been "a generalised confusion" between officials of the two federations in the tunnel heading into the dressing rooms.

"There was some pushing and shoving going on," said Paiva, who then laid the blame on Sebastian Beccacece, one of Chile's assistant coaches.

Beccacece, in turn, said: "What happened was really nothing out of the ordinary. The important thing is to talk about football."

If found guilty, those involved could face punishment ranging from a simple warning to a ban.