Prem clubs ban vuvuzelas

Horns pose safety risk, say Premier League clubs

By Danny Wright   Last updated: 20th July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Prem clubs ban vuvuzelas

Vuvuzelas: Banned

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Six Premier League clubs have all banned controversial vuvuzelas from their stadiums this season.

Arsenal and Tottenham were the first top flight sides to banish the instrument, with Birmingham, West Ham, Sunderland and Liverpool quickly adding to the list of vuvuzela-free stadia.

The horns - a plastic instrument played at matches in South Africa - provided the backdrop to the World Cup finals this summer, causing irritation amongst players and supporters.

The cacophony often drowned out the chants of the crowds during games, leading to some English clubs fearing they would diminish the traditional atmosphere at their grounds.

The clubs have moved to ban the horn ahead of the new campaign - claiming they posed a safety risk as well as ruining the matchday ambience.

A statement from Spurs, who play at White Hart Lane, read: "We are concerned that the presence of the instruments within the stadium pose unnecessary risks to public safety and could impact on the ability of all supporters to hear any emergency safety announcements."

Organically produced atmosphere

It added: "We are very proud of the fantastic atmosphere that our supporters produce organically at White Hart Lane and we are all very much looking forward to this continuing into the forthcoming season."

North London rivals Arsenal also moved quickly to ban the vuvuzela, also citing safety reasons.

The Gunners said in a statement: "Further to their hugely debated involvement at the World Cup Finals in South Africa, Arsenal Football Club has decided to forbid the use of vuvuzelas within Emirates Stadium with immediate effect.

"This decision has been taken to ensure the enjoyment and safety of supporters on matchdays, which is of paramount importance to the club."

Birmingham said vuvuzelas had been abolished following feedback from their supporters and claimed other Premier League sides would soon follow suit.

"The club took into account feedback from both supporters and relevant bodies such as the Safety and Advisory Committee and have made the decision on health and safety grounds," said a statement on the club's official website.

Weapon

"An overwhelming majority of Blues supporters said they didn't want vuvuzelas to be allowed at St Andrews."

West Ham later added confirmation that they too were banning the vuvuzela for similar reasons, but added that the horn could also be used as a weapon.

A West Ham club statement said: "Under the current health and safety regulations at the stadium, which already disallows musical bands, we would not allow them (vuvuzelas) into the stadium as they could be considered a weapon and could also be considered to be an annoyance to others.

"The health and safety regulation that all of this comes under is already in place. The club wish at all times to ensure that all supporters are allowed to enjoy the game they are watching and prides itself on the passionate, loud and robust support from our fans at all matches at Upton Park."

After West Ham's announcement, Sunderland and Liverpool moved to ban the vuvuzela from the Stadium of Light and Anfield respectively.

The ban will spark debate about the atmosphere in Premier League stadiums. Vuvuzelas were welcomed by some during the World Cup, saying they represented the culture of the host nation.

However, they were promptly banned by other sports, with this summer's Wimbledon tennis championships marked as a strictly vuvuzela-free zone.

Other top flight outfits are believed to be considering outlawing the instrument but fellow Premier League outfit Blackpool denied they would welcome vuvuzelas.

Suggestions had been put forward that the vuvuzela would help intimidate visitors to the Seasiders' Bloomfield Road ground following their promotion from the Championship.

Ian Holloway's team are widely expected to struggle following their unexpected arrival in the promised land of English football and the horns were believed to be a fear-inducing device.

Consultation

But Blackpool have dismissed such reports, saying they had more important matters to deal with ahead of the new campaign.

The Lancashire outfit currently only have three stands and are hastily assembling a new East Stand which would increase capacity to 16,900 for home fixtures.

And with the clock running down on their first game as hosts, the vuvuzela is a matter still yet to be resolved.

The club said any ban would involve a consultation with fans. A spokesman said: "We haven't really given any full consideration to vuvuzelas at the moment.

"We've had plenty of other things occupying the mind with a debut season in the Barclays Premier League to prepare for. Any decision will be taken in due course and in consultation with relevant supporter groups."

A statement added that the club's previous assertion they are keen to ensure the atmosphere is better than ever "does not necessarily mean that vuvuzelas will be permitted".

Comments (36)

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Sean B (Arsenal fan) says...

Did I hear some say racism? Thats ridiculous. The reason they are getting banned is because they are just annoying. I don't think I have spoken to a single person who feels they enhanced the WC or the coverage. Its like suggesting I don't want a cuckoo clock in my house because I hate the Swiss. No, its because they are annoying. See the pattern here? Love france, accordians are a bit rubbish. Love Germany, leiderhosen - no ta. Nothing against americans but I do despise the constant "Get in the hole" screeches during US golf tournaments. It doesn't make anyone racist; we just don't find the sound of a tuneless horn blown constantly for 90 minutes particularly enjoyable. Plus I am an Arsenal fan, I like to watch my football in stone cold silence please.

Posted 13:33 21st July 2010

Brad Garwood (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Dan Mahara - Your post is absolutly ridiculous!!! The main reason I think the Vuvuzelas should be banned is, as many people have commented, is the fans chanting and singing, which is an English football tradition and will be drowned out by the constant noise of the Vuvuzelas - FACT. The fact that you are trying to claim it has been driven by a hugh racist attack on Africa I actually found to be quite offensive to myself and the hundreds of thousands of other decent people behind the ban for genuine reasons!!! You sound to me like you have deep seeded issues which you are broadcasting in the only way you know how - blaming everyone else. Do everyone a favour and get some counselling...

Posted 13:30 21st July 2010

Steve Taggart (Chelsea fan) says...

Why would anyone want these terrible things at a football match they distract from the game during the WC I watch all the games with the sound off due to the fact that sound gave me a head ache every time and as for spoiling some 5 year olds enjoyment aren't they there to follow there team. And as for the racist standpoint i read earlier please grow up just because we don't want to listen to that noise when watching our national game doesn't make us racist

Posted 13:20 21st July 2010

Robert Schofield (Chelsea fan) says...

I was going to reply to Dan Mahara's comments however in doing so I was getting wound up so decided not to. It's evident he doesn't know what he's talking about; how does banning an irritating sound that distracts the communication amongs players constitute as being racist??? South Africa 2010 has been the worst in WC history with the constant droning being a major contributor. South Africa should never have been awarded the games in the first place.

Posted 13:07 21st July 2010

Adam P (West Ham United fan) says...

I spent 2 weeks in South Africa for the World Cup, and saw 4 games. On television the drone of the vuvuzela's was indeed annoying, but in the stadium itself it adds to the intensity and atmosphere. If a small child had one behind you and insisted on blowing it throughout the match it was awful, but in general they were excellent!! There were still fans chanting, which could clearly be heard in the stadiums. It might spoil football as a television spectacle, which of course is where the money and bargaining power now lies, but the stadiums would come to life with the Vuvuzela. I also saw no violence, they're not a weapon!!!

Posted 12:56 21st July 2010

Jason Walker (Arsenal fan) says...

I wonder if Dan's comment will still stand when Sir Alex bans them at Old Trafford!! Its not a racist thing at all its a very annoying thing which may be how the africans support their football but the english have different ways of showing support

Posted 12:50 21st July 2010

Steve Johnson (Hull City fan) says...

Is Dan Mahara's tongue firmly in his cheek? I truly hope it is, otherwise the rant he's posted goes to show just what an enormous chip he has on his shoulder! There is nothing wrong in banning that ridiculous "instrument" as it serves no tuneful purpose. True, many thousands of people may have bought them, but tens of millions of people detested the noise they brought to the games and our TV screens this summer. Claiming racism and an attack on Africa goes to show the mentality of the man, but then again, you can see what team he purports to support, so it really isn't that unexpected.

Posted 12:49 21st July 2010

David Hutton (Leeds United fan) says...

whoever said this is racism is a complete idiot... there's nothing racist about it - it is an african tradition, and i am very glad that they weren't banned at the WC as that would have ruined part of the aspect of it being in africa, same as we'll get Samba bands in Brazil in 2014 i'd imagine. However, knowing english supporters a small number of people would see it is as hilarious to take them to every match and blow them incessantly with no real reason. Vuvuzelas are an African method of showing support, over here we have chants, that's all. You also have to remember that Health and Safety regulations are a lot stricter over here than they are in Africa, and so what passes there regarding noice levels relating to PSAs might not necessarily pass in England.

Posted 12:09 21st July 2010

David H (Sunderland fan) says...

Dan, wide your neck in!

Posted 12:08 21st July 2010

Mark Clyne (Manchester United fan) says...

Dan the reason is that they are bloody annoying and the constant drone made it difficult for me to sit through an entire game during the world cup. What are you going on about a big racism thing for? Are you short of brain cells or something. Man Utd have not banned them yet and if you sit near me at Old Trafford blowing one I will shove it where the sun dont shine.

Posted 12:04 21st July 2010

Etienne Groenewald (Liverpool fan) says...

I agree that the Vuvuzela should be banned from EPL as the atmosphere in the stadiums are fantastic. However, I am very dissapointed with some of the comments made against the Vuvuzela. I bet most of the comments made about the Vuvuzela are from people who didn't come to South Africa to watch the World Cup at all. If you were in the stadiums as I was for a number of the 2010 games, you would have realized that the Vuvuzela was an amazing attribute to the World Cup. The noise inside the stadium was terrific and to be fair to South Africans I noticed that most of the times the Vuvuzela's were blown by foreigners. Sitting in Soccer City and 85 000 people blowing the Vuvuzela at the same time, was ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHING and I will never forget that. It was simply brilliant. It was an African World Cup and damn, we did an excellent job and I am proud to call myself South African and proud of the Vuvuzela being used at the 2010 World Cup.

Posted 11:36 21st July 2010

Blue Baby (Chelsea fan) says...

What a load of rubbish Dan Mahara writes. This has nothing to do with racism. When I am trying to sing a song and get behind my team, why should my voice and those of others be drowned by this awful drone? The only people who will welcome the plastic vuvuzelas are probably the plastic fans.

Posted 11:23 21st July 2010

Dave Green (Manchester United fan) says...

They ruined the world cup for me. Eventually turned sound down as far as poss. They are annoying, dangerous and will ruin football for ever if allowed in. I certainly will not take any of my grand children to a match if they are still around in 12 months.

Posted 11:08 21st July 2010

Ashwin Perumal (Liverpool fan) says...

I am from South Africa & did attend a game. Yes, it can be annoying. If the PL clubs want to band it, its your choice. But if possible, for once, can you english just stop spewing that garbage that comes out of your mouth. To the one who called it a "satanic" instrument, do you look as stupid as you sound. If i recall, when England won the game to qualify for the next round, it was the english fans who were blowing as loud as they could. You want to talk about using it as a weapon, only you guys are capable of that. Lets not forget who orchestrated the fan to go into the english dressing room, yes, an english reporter. Most of you complaining are most probaly over the age of 80 who believed the crap out of the english newspapers potraying S.A as a war zone & thank God you listened because just your presence would of been more annoying than the vuvuzelas. You want to band it, fine, case closed & with respect, its your choice. But stop with your perception of S.A being a "dark" country.

Posted 10:52 21st July 2010

Mike O (Liverpool fan) says...

Good work on banning these. The English game does not need these instruments as the atmosphere is always electric at premier league games. And to call the Ban Racist is laughable. Arsenal were one of the first teams to ban them and they are probably the least bit racist of any team on the planet.

Posted 09:55 21st July 2010

Steve Tyler (Liverpool fan) says...

Dan your comments are way over board, the ban on the vuvuzela does not show racisim in the dna of the people who run the clubs who have banned it. What a ridiculous statement. They have benned them after all the fans have complained about the noise from them during the world cup. The ban is in place to try and retain the atmosphere of the grounds as they are. I personally feel the ban is over the top, no way would they over take the grounds like they did at the WC, I reckon no one would still be taking them by the end of august, just like when there were those inflatable batons you could smack together, they soon got forgotten.

Posted 09:50 21st July 2010

Thrineshen Moodley (Liverpool fan) says...

Hi !I am a South African, I might be called Judas by my countryman but I HATE THAT CONTRAPTION ! I opt for the Premier league and i did miss the singing and chanting at the world cup. I don't even watch our local league , the blow of a vuvuzela would not move me quite as much as the KOP harmonising 'You'll Never Walk Alone.' I don't think it was a racist ban but i do believe each country has a right to preserve its own footballing heritage as is the case of the premiership since the atmosphere has worked wonders and attracted viewers far and wide. Given the design and thickness of the instrument it could be a new sort of weapon in a continent (Europe) that has had its fair share of footballing violence..

Posted 09:05 21st July 2010

Jason Marriott (Everton fan) says...

Honestly they not bad for creating defening noise, but I must say the game I went to I prefered the drums and singing of the South American fans to the vuvuvela. I must say it doesn't create atmosphere like singing and drums. What it does do is drown out opposition supporters, so if you going to away games and out numbered it is one way to annoy them.

Posted 08:34 21st July 2010

Anil Sewpersad (Arsenal fan) says...

Congratulations to all those clubs that have taken the decision to ban the satanic instrument. Well done!

Posted 05:09 21st July 2010

Dan Mahara (Manchester United fan) says...

This ban is a racist attack on the continent of Africa, and you can see how swift this action is simply because its something coming out of the so-called "dark continent"!! Was there a single security incident at the WC which was because of the vuvuzelas? If it was such a problem at the WC, why did the thousands of fans from all over the world buy and use the vuvuzelas? Even those who could not use them bought them!! Are you going to ban the all sorts of items like coins, water bottles etc which have actually continued to shed the blood of players and officials alike? Why is Liverpool not banning the balloons and beach balls which actually lost them a match at Sunderland? The reason why they are not advocating for the ban of those beach balls or balloons is because they did not originate from Africa. Do you think we forget how the British press berated and cast a shadow of doubt on the security of the WC in South Africa simply because there was an incident in Angola! Whether you like it or not, some people reading this posting will tend to "refuse" the truth and find all sorts of reasons to justify this arrogant and racist attack on Africa because they have racism in their DNA. It is a shame to society that we behave only in a certain way when anything has to do with Africa, and try and dress it up nicely. If it was not for Sepp Blatter the WC would never have come to Africa because of the very same people swiftly rushing to ban the vuvuzelas.Lets not forget that only a few years ago, Africa was only entitled to 2 WC places, while useless footballing nations were entitled to so many WC berths!!!! The same Premier League clubs which have rushed to ban the vuvuzelas just stand out as having leaders who have racism in their DNA no matter how they will want to posture and pontificate in the public arena. It does not help, you must heal yourself in your mind and you will experience true freedom!

Posted 01:47 21st July 2010
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