UEFA issued a ban Wednesday that prevents fans from bringing vuvuzelas into the stadium at any match it organizes in the continent's 53 football nations. The governing body of European football said it made the decision to protect the culture and tradition of fans singing at matches from the “negative effect” of South Africa's signature musical contraption.
”UEFA feels that the instrument's widespread use would not be appropriate in Europe,” the organization said in a statement.
South Africa's response? A respectful rejection of European values.
“We believe that UEFA has the right to decide what goes on in their games, but we believe that they are wrong,” World Cup organizing committee spokesman Rich Mkhondo told The Associated Press.
“They should not be so rigid about the future ways in which people like to express themselves,” Mkhondo said in a telephone interview from South Africa. “We will forever cherish the way South Africans and Africans and even the visitors who came from around the world embraced vuvuzelas.” South Africa's defiant stance was backed by FIFA, which defended vuvuzelas as an important part of the host nation's football culture.
“I have always said that Africa has a different rhythm, a different sound,” FIFA president Sepp Blatter said in a Twitter message on the fourth day of the World Cup. “I don't see banning the music traditions of fans in their own country.” FIFA refused to ban vuvuzelas despite repeated calls from players, who said on-field communication was lost in the din, and broadcasters who feared viewers were turned off by the low-pitch drone likened to a swarm of buzzing bees.
Yet the UEFA embargo follows bans issued by organizers of basketball's world championship and baseball's Little League World Series, plus most English Premier League clubs.
UEFA did at least acknowledge Wednesday that vuvuzelas have a place in world football culture, if not Europe's.
CIn the specific context of South Africa, the vuvuzela adds a touch of local flavor and folklore,” the organization said.
C(However) 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,” UEFA said. “UEFA is of the view that the vuvuzelas would completely change the atmosphere, drowning supporter emotions and detracting from the experience of the game.” The ban will take effect when qualifying for Euro 2012 begins on Friday, and when the group stage of the Champions League and Europa League starts in two weeks.
European broadcasters, many of whom developed sound filters during the World Cup to try to control the vuvuzela noise, will likely be delighted by the ban. Valuable television rights deals help to ensure that the Champions League earns more than §1 billion ($1.28 billion) in commercial revenue each season.
The European Broadcasting Union, a Geneva-based umbrella group of mainly state-owned channels, declined comment on Wednesday.
Vuvuzelas also have been opposed on health as well as taste grounds.
FIBA cited medical advice when it banned them from the basketball world championship, which is currently being played in Turkey. It said the “controversial instruments” emitted a 120-decibel noise in indoor arenas which could permanently damage the hearing of players and spectators, and have a “direct negative impact” on the game by making it difficult for referees to communicate.
In South Africa, Mkhondo pointed to the inclusion of “vuvuzela” in the Oxford Dictionary of English as proof of a global phenomenon.
“This World Cup will be remembered in many ways,” Mkhondo said. “One will be the emergence of vuvuzelas as celebratory instruments.”
