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Issue Report: Banning vuvuzela horns at the 2010 World Cup

Should the Vuvuzela horn be banned from the FIFA World Cup?

The vuvuzela, sometimes called a “lepatata” or a stadium horn, is a blowing horn up to approximately 3 feet in length. It is commonly blown by fans at football matches in South Africa. After the Confederations Cup FIFA received complaints from multiple European broadcasters who wanted it banned for the 2010 FIFA World Cup because the sound drowns out the commentators. On June 13, 2010, the BBC reported that the South African organizing chief Danny Jordaan was considering a ban of the vuvuzela during matches. Jordaan noted that “if there are grounds to do so, yes [they will be gotten rid of]” and that “if any land on the pitch in anger we will take action.” On June 15, it was reported that 545 complaints had been made to the BBC concerning the noise being made by vuvuzelas during coverage. BBC is reportedly considering an alternate broadcast stream that filters out the ambient noise while maintaining game commentary. A spokesperson for the ESPN network said it was taking steps to minimize the noise of the vuvuzelas on its broadcasts. There are some that see their use during the performance of the national anthems as disrespectful. Other critics have also noted that it is seen as disrespectful to be “dismissive of the cultures of the guest team supporters”. Some commentators have defended the vuvuzela as being an integral and unique part of South African football culture and say it adds to the atmosphere of the game. BBC sports commentator Farayi Mungazi said the sound of the horn was the “recognized sound of football in South Africa” and is “absolutely essential for an authentic South African footballing experience”. He also said there was no point in taking the world cup to Africa and then “trying to give it a European feel”. The debate below will focus on whether or not the vuvuzela horn should be banned at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Tradition: Are vuvuzelas an important S. African tradition?

Singing is bigger part of tradition of S. Africa than Vuvuzela

South African World Cup Organising committee chief executive Danny Jordaan said in June of 2010: “I would prefer singing. It’s always been a great generator of a wonderful atmosphere in stadiums and I would try to encourage them to sing. In the days of the struggle (against apartheid) we were singing, all through our history it’s our ability to sing that inspired and drove the emotions.”[1]

The vuvuzela is a South African tradition

The vuvuzela is all about South African pride and culture. Silencing it would silence this culture and damage the sense of identity among these people. 26-year-old Hendrik Maharala of Johannesburg, for example, said to the Huffington Post in June of 2010: “I feel like an African when I blow the vuvuzela.”[2]

Vuvuzela ban would impose Western values on World Cup

Ryan Bailey. "Vuvuzelas might yet be banned from World Cup." Yahoo Sports. June 13th, 2010:

“we should not impose Western values on South Africa. A ban would rob the tournament of part of its cultural identity, leaving thousands of locals perplexed: could you imagine being told by an international body that you could no longer drink beer at American football games, or fall asleep during baseball? The South Africans wouldn’t take too kindly to having a national institution removed.”

Players: Do vuvuzelas disrupt or encourage players?

Vuvuzelas impair communication between players

South Africa’s star striker Steven Pienaar admitted “When we were playing Colombia we couldn’t hear each other.”[3] Other critics including Lionel Messi made this complaint.

Vuvuzelas disrupt concentration of players.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo went on record to state that the sound of the vuvuzelas disturbed the teams’ concentration during World Cup play.[4]

Vuvuzelas disrupt player's and other's sleep at night

France captain Patrice Evra claimed that they performed poorly in a game in early June in the World Cup because the team could not get enough sleep. He said, “We can’t sleep at night because of the vuvuzelas.”[5]

The vuvuzela helps motivate players

23-year-old Sazi Mhlwaitka said in June of 2010 for the Huffington Post: “It’s our way to motivate players.”

23-year-old Sazi Mhlwaitka said in June of 2010 for the Huffington Post: "It's our way to motivate players."

The sales of vuvuzelas are massive, amounting to many hundreds of thousands around stadiums and even in rural towns away from these areas for use in bars and other public areas. This is economically beneficial for the vendors that sell them, and a significant factor to consider in support of the vuvuzela.

Viewing experience: Do vuvuzelas detract from or add to viewing experience?

Vuvuzelas are generally very annoying

Commentators have described the sound as “annoying” and “satanic” and compared it with “a stampede of noisy elephants”, an elephant passing wind, “a deafening swarm of locusts”, “a goat on the way to slaughter”, and “a giant hive full of very angry bees”.[6]

Vuvuzelas drown out ebbs and flows of games.

In the course of a game without the Vuvuzela, one gets a sense of how the crowd is reacting to action, with excitement and lows being conveyed through collective voices ebbing and flowing. The Vuvuzela completely drowns this out, undermining one of the unique experiences of watching futbol.

Vuvuzelas drown out singing and other expressions of support

Some spectators have also complained that vuvuzelas drown out other expressions of support, such as singing, chanting, clapping, and oowing and ahhing.

Vuvuzelas turn people off from watching and attending games

Ryan Bailey. "Vuvuzelas might yet be banned from World Cup." Yahoo Sports. June 13, 2010

The vuvuzela is “putting people off of tuning in (will you honestly feel enthused to watch Slovakia vs. Paraguay knowing you’ll have to endure 90 minutes of the sound of an angry beehive going through a blender?).”[7]

Vuvuzelas essential to viewing experience in S. Africa.

Some commentators have defended the vuvuzela as being an integral and unique part of South African football culture and say it adds to the atmosphere of the game. BBC sports commentator Farayi Mungazi said the sound of the horn was the “recognised sound of football in South Africa” and is “absolutely essential for an authentic South African footballing experience”.[8]

The vuvuzela is an expression of happiness and emotion

23-year-old Sazi Mhlwaitka said in June of 2010 for the Huffington Post: it helps “express happiness and how do you feel in the stadium.”[9]

Many people enjoy the noise of the vuvuzela.

A 21-year-old Jessica Dyrand said to the Huffington Post in June of 2010: “I love the noise.”[10]

The vuvuzela supercharges the atmosphere at the world cup.

The vuvuzela produces much more noise than the human voice, and so conveys a much greater level of excitement. This produces a higher level of excitement and positive atmosphere at these events.

Guests at World Cup should embrace S. African vuvuzela tradition.

World Cup local organizing committee spokesman Rich Mkhondo told a news conference at Soccer City stadium: “Vuvuzelas are here to stay and will never be banned. The history of the vuvuzela is ingrained in South Africa. As our guests please embrace our culture, please embrace the way we celebrate.”[11]

TV viewing: Does it undermine TV viewing?

Vuvuzelas make it hard to hear commentators.

The vuvuzelas are so loud that they even make it hard to hear the commentators on TV that are trying to describe the action of the game.

Vuvuzela generally disrupts TV viewing of games.

Many TV viewers are very annoyed by the vuvuzela and mute their TVs in order to avoid having to listen to it. This significantly diminishes the viewing experience, causing viewers to miss the ebbs and flows of the emotion of the fans and the commentating.

They are a source of headaches.

TV stations can easily adjust volume for vuvuzelas.

TV stations are fully capable of moderating the volume so that the background noise of the vuvuzelas is reduced and so that the commentators can be better heard. This makes for an entirely appropriate viewing experience.

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