© Getty Images Enlarge Rodrigo Hilbert and Fernanda Lima pose during the launch of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil official emblem
FIFA are to be investigated in Brazil for suspicions of racism over the selection of the hosts of the broadcast of Friday's World Cup draw in Bahia.
Sao Paulo state prosecutor Christiano Jorge Santos will investigate whether the decision to overlook Afro-Brazilian soap stars Lazaro Ramos and Camila Pitanga and instead hire TV presenter Rodrigo Hilbert and his model wife Fernanda Lima - who are both white - was motivated by discrimination by either world football's governing body or the event's Brazil-based organisers, TV Globo and GEO Eventos.
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"I opened the investigation due to the suspicion of a crime of racism on the part of FIFA, or by the company they selected to organise the show, GEO Eventos," Santos told Reuters, while The Sun reports him as adding: "Racism is a serious matter in Brazil. We need to find out if a crime was committed. We do not want the image of our people to be whitened or distorted."
Lima and Hilbert were both part of the launch of the tournament's official emblem in Johannesburg three years ago, while Lima was one of the presenters for the preliminary draw the following year.
Ramos and Pitanga, who star together in Side By Side, one of Brazil's most popular television programmes, have not been involved in any official World Cup broadcasts to date.
FIFA has denied the claims, saying in a statement to Reuters: "The selection of Fernanda Lima and Rodrigo Hilbert was mainly based on the positive experience made during the launch of the official emblem and the preliminary draw.
"FIFA's stance against any form of discrimination and racism which is even enshrined in our various regulations amongst others is well known."
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File photo of Casey Stoney from last year 
Over the weekend, FIFA President Sepp Blatter faced criticism from British women associated with soccer for his support of a Brazilian model chosen to conduct the televised draw for the  on Saturday.

, who has no previous connection to football or sport prior to her involvement as a FIFA 2014 World Cup presenter, appeared on stage wearing a gold dress with a plunging neckline and matching heels. She stood alongside secretary general of FIFA Jérôme Valcke, Blatter and soccer greats including Uruguayan  during the draw. FIFA claims they were not involved in the selection of Lima's attire.

'''' writer Frank Isola said his favorite moment of the draw was when Ghiggia dropped a ping-pong ball and Lima in her dress retrieved it.

, who was captain of  in the last Olympics told the '''': "Giving the job to a model has sent out completely the wrong message. Unfortunately I wasn't surprised. ... They could have had a woman high up in the game or else a player with proper international standing. This should have been about football." 

 broadcaster , the first woman to be a  Match of the Day commentator for the network, is quoted by the ''Sunday Telegraph'' as saying, "What a missed opportunity. Brazil have arguably the most talented female footballer in the world, the great Marta, five-time FIFA World Player of the Year. Why not use her to showcase the best of Brazil and show some of her spectacular goals?"

Live coverage of the draw in Iran cut away every time Lima was in shot because her clothes did not comport with Iranian customs.

Blatter has a history of making remarks that have been perceived as sexist, including a 2004 comment that suggested female players could get more fans by wearing tighter uniforms.

Christiano Jorge Santos, a  state prosecutor, announced prior to the draw he planned an investigation into FIFA and event organizer GEO Eventos following the related accusations of racism stemming from the selection of Lima as a presenter.  Suggestions were made that Lima was chosen because she was white.


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