2 Argentine fans being investigated for allegedly yelling racist slurs during World Cup match

RIO DE JANEIRO – Two Argentine soccer fans are being investigated by Rio de Janeiro police for allegedly shouting racist slurs at Brazilians rooting for their team’s World Cup rival.

Police confirmed in a statement that the incident happened Sunday inside Maracana stadium, during Argentina’s match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. It said the two Argentines, whose identities were withheld, were questioned and then released from police custody.

The newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo said two people shouted “little monkeys” at a group of Brazilians who were cheering for Bosnia after its second-half goal.

Brazilian organizers are using the World Cup to draw attention to the country’s racial diversity and President Dilma Rousseff has called on foreign visitors to help promote a tournament free of racism and prejudice.

Nine other Argentine fans were arrested Sunday for trying to force their way into the game without tickets. A video published on the website of the Rio newspaper O Globo shows a group of about 30 fans jumping over a wall and storming through a chain-link gate before being corralled by security officers.

Saint-Clair Milesi, a spokesman for the World Cup organizing committee, said authorities would tighten access to the stadium to prevent fans without tickets from posing a security risk.