Uefa Ban Vuvuzelas For Euro 2012, Champions League And Europa League

Ollie Irish

1st, September 2010

5 Comments

By Ollie Irish

This statement just in from Platini Towers:

“UEFA has decided that vuvuzelas – the trumpet that came to prominence at games during this summer’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa – may not be brought into stadiums at matches in UEFA competitions.

European football’s governing body has informed its 53 member associations that it has taken the move for reasons related to Europe’s football culture and tradition, saying that the atmosphere at matches would be changed by the sound of the vuvuzela.

The World Cup was characterised by the vuvuzela’s widespread and permanent use in the stands. In the specific context of South Africa, the vuvuzela adds a touch of local flavour and folklore, but UEFA feels that the instrument’s widespread use would not be appropriate in Europe, where a continuous loud background noise would be emphasised.

The magic of football consists of the two-way exchange of emotions between the pitch and the stands, where the public can transmit a full range of feelings to the players. However, UEFA is of the view that the vuvuzelas would completely change the atmosphere, drowning supporter emotions and detracting from the experience of the game.

To avoid the risk of these negative effects in the stadiums where UEFA competitions are played and to protect the culture and tradition of football in Europe – singing, chanting etc. – UEFA has decided with immediate effect that vuvuzelas will not be allowed in the stadiums where UEFA competitions matches are played.”

It’s the right decision, I think. European football doesn’t need or want the vuvuzela, just as African football can do without any Europeanisation of its game.

You agree with Uefa that the vuvuzelas ‘drown’ supporter emotions? (Okay, that wording sounds like it was decided on by a committee of Sony robots, but you get the gist.)

Posted in Champions League, Europa League, FAIL

Share this article: Email

5 Comments

  1. Zbham17 says:

    Had to just post this, it was writen by a south african during the world cup 2010. (Funny enough, both finalist were European)

    VuvuZela
    Posted by Z Bham
    Written by Simon (South Africa)

    Dear Europeans, Cristiano Ronaldo and whingy white South Africans,
    For the last few days, I hear you have been complaining about the noise of the vuvuzelas at games. As we’ve been blowing them consistently since Thursday night we haven’t been able to hear you whining until now.
    Well, quite frankly, I don’t give two fucks. This is a South African World Cup. South Africans blow vuvuzelas when they watch football. Therefore, ipso facto vuvuzelas will be blown-o during World Cup matches. Surprisingly, people who regularly attend SA football matches (for example fans and players who have been attending matches for so many years that one without a vuvuzela would be ridiculous) have all their hearing faculties and have managed to play and communicate in this atmosphere.
    Do you not think it is quite odd for visitors and non-SA-football fans to go into someone else’s environment and tell them what to do?
    Because you are going to your first or second game ever in SA, you think you have some kind of right to dictate the atmosphere, as if it doesn’t apply to people who have been watching football here for 10+ years? How would you like it if they slipped into your w(h)ine club and told you how to run it?
    When I watched football in London, some chap kept calling the referee a cunt… in front of what looked to be a 5/6 year old boy. So trust me, it’s not as if football culture is better in other parts of the world. There’s loads of shit not to like, and if you want to obsessively hate cultural aspects of our national game, then I suggest you stay at home and watch it on the SABC with the volume off.
    We will continue blowing our vuvuzelas for these reasons:
    1) The noise of 60 000 of them being blown at once is fucking fantastic.
    2) It makes it harder for European teams. This is what we call HOME GROUND ADVANTAGE.
    3) It is as much part of Mzansi as the Nelson Mandela is.
    4) It annoys British people and Aussies. Two birds, one stone.
    They’re here to stay. Even if you whingy gits kick them out the stadiums, we will blow them on the outside. While you’re having dinner. While you’re trying to sleep. In fact, as soon as we can see you getting annoyed we’ll blow them again.
    Because you came and dictated what we can and can’t do.
    And you know how well South Africans react to that.
    The vuvuzela is here to stay.
    Love Simon. (The author)

  2. yes says:

    thank god, i hated those things, and if a made in china plastic horn is part you culture that goes back for centuries, you got a shit culture my friend

  3. Andy Jo says:

    This is a great decision to ban these awful noisy monotone pieces of plastic from Euro 2012, Champions League & Europa League, hopefully it will spread & ALL teams/clubs/stadia will come to their senses & ban the bloody noisy thing as the noise becomes irritating & destroys the atmosphere, makes it difficult for players to communicate & hear the refs whistle.
    PS. I am a South African. The post by Zbham is typical arrogance of some S.A soccer fan’s..

  4. Montesquieu says:

    The only thing that Uefa has ever done right.

  5. Aarony says:

    Absolutely agree with Montesquieu AND even though that letter is amusing..you’re mixing something really sensitive with football. Football is not JUST a game but you’re quite frankly bringing racism into it,deliberately. South Africa hosted a beautiful world cup. And the ONLY thing horrible about it ..was the vuvuzellas.If it’s your culture ..that’s wonderful. Good for you! But I don’t invite guests to my house & serve them with Urine Soup saying it’s my culture you can’t complain you have to eat it.

Leave a Reply to Andy Jo