World Cup 2010: Vuvuzelas face ban

Daily Telegraph

Vuvuzelas, the plastic horns which have been one of the most prominent factors of the World Cup in South Africa, could be banned.

Tournament organisers spoke yesterday of the possibility of banning the African instruments from inside stadiums after complaints from broadcasters, players and fans.

The noise has been likened to a herd of stampeding elephants or the drone of a thousand bees.

Local fans say the honking horn is part of South African football-supporting tradition, and the vuvuzela plays the part of a 12th man for the Bafana Bafana team.

But critics say it is a danger to hearing and drowns out the singing loved by many international supporters.

Others say it is an annoyance to television viewers, many of whom have complained about the persistant background noise.

Fans arriving at OR Tambo Airport are greeted straight off the plane with loud blasts echoing around the arrivals hall.

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