INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Brazil's replacement to the vuvuzela is already giving a headache to World Cup organizers.
It wasn't the sound of the caxirola - a maraca-like instrument not nearly as noisy as the South African vuvuzela - that attracted all the attention during its official debut at a match in northeastern Brazil on Sunday.
Instead, hundreds of the small green and yellow plastic objects were thrown onto the field by fans upset with their team's performance, prompting the match to be briefly interrupted.
Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo said it was "not good news" to see the instruments thrown by fans.
The caxirola produces a continuous rattling sound, but it's softer than the one produced by the much-criticized vuvuzelas in South Africa.