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Calls for World Cup vuvuzela ban rejected

By Channel 4 News

Updated on 14 June 2010

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk coach have all criticised the noise made from the african trumpets - but world cup organisers say fans will not be banned from blowing their vuvuzelas at matches.

Vuvuzela being blown (Credit: Getty)

Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the tournament's local organising committee, said on Sunday that there could be a case for stopping fans from bringing their vuvuzelas to matches.

Asked if the instrument should be banned, he replied: "if there are grounds to do so, yes".

But other tournament officials have been quick to reject claims the trumpets could be silenced. 

Rich Mkhondo, a spokesman for the world cup's organising committee, described the vuvuzela as a "cultural phenomenon" and denied Jordaan had suggested restrictions on their use.

"To clarify, he said, 'If vuvuzelas were to be used to attack and injure other people or thrown into the field to disrupt matches, we would look at preventing people from bringing them into the stadium.'

"All in all, vuvuzelas are here to stay.

"They will never be banned. we just ask that people use them wisely and keep quiet when asked to do so during the singing of national anthems and the deliveries of speeches."

England hit by renewed injury worries
England defender Ledley King could be out for three weeks after suffering a groin tear in England's first match against United States on Saturday.

Manager Fabio Capello had earlier said he hoped King's injury was not too serious, so he could play on Friday against Algeria.

However adding to his side's concerns, left-back Ashley Cole and strike Wayne Rooney also missed training today, although England officials played down their absences.

Former captain Rio Ferdinand returned home to Britain this morning after suffering a knee injury during the first training session in South Africa last week

Critics have complained that the instrument sounds like a heard of rampaging buffalo, or swarm of angry bees that drown out the chants of fans or conversations between players.

The instrument is said to descend from the kudu horn - ixilongo in isiXhosa, mhalamhala in Tshivenda - blown to summon African villagers to meetings. Other versions were made of tin.

The trumpets can generate a deafening volume of 144 decibels when blown in unison.

Lionel Messi, Argentina's star striker, said the blowing of vuvuzelas during his side's 1-o victory over Nigeria had made communication impossible.

"It's like being deaf," he said.

Other players have joined the criticism. The French captain Patrice Evra said he had been woken by fans blowing their trumpets at 6am, his team-mate Yoann Gourcuff went further, blaming them for France's poor performance during their 0-0 draw with Uruguay.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo said: "It is difficult for anyone on the pitch to concentrate. A lot of players don't like them, but they are going to have to get used to them."

The Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk banned vuvuzelas from his side's training sessions after complaining he had struggled to make himself heard.

A facebook group has been set up calling for the trumpets to be banned, however other groups have been started expressing support for their continued noise during the tournament.

FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter tweeted his approval for the horns saying traditional music should not be banned.

"To answer all your messages re the Vuvuzelas. I have always said that Africa has a different rhythm, a different sound…" Sepp Blatter said via his Twitter account

He added: "...I don't see banning the music traditions of fans in their own country. Would you want to see a ban on the fan traditions in your country?"

However Jamie Carragher told journalists at at an England press conference that the trumpets were not a distraction.

"I didn't notice it too much. I think you notice it more when you watch all the games on tv.

"My kids have been home and asked for two, so I've got two in my bag already."

Some players have criticised fans for not blowing them loud enough.

The South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune said the fans were too quiet during his side's opening 1-1 draw against Mexico.

"We want more support and louder vuvuzelas when we play our next match. We could hardly hear the fans who were quiet at stages during the game," he said. 

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