NO
Apparently, what’s good enough for the World Cup is good enough for the best domestic leagues in Europe as informal chatter begins over whether or not vuvuzelas will migrate back to the continent after Brazil lift the trophy on July 11.
Imagine that… plastic trumpets at Anfield, or within the genteel confines of the Emirates. I can’t see this going down well with the prawn sandwich brigade at Stamford Bridge, either.
The South Africans are talking them up, mentioning again their integral part of African culture (though honestly, the earliest actual vuvuzela mention I can find is sometime in the early-90s as part of some vuvuzela manufacturer’s ad copy) and how they could be great overseas. It’s also true that a lot of the vuvuzela-blowers at the World Cup games are foreign fans supporting other teams… I mean, when in Rome, right?
I get that vuvuzelas have some kind of spiritual ancestry with horns used by tribal leaders, but the connection is as tenuous as telling me that a Chicken McNugget is closely connected to the feathery egg-layer from whence they allegedly come.
“Let us not make this a South African instrument alone. The vuvuzela is now an international instrument. People will buy them and stuff them in their suitcases and take them home,” quipped a World Cup organizer, which has everyone in a panic wondering if the plastic trumpets will make it back in fans’ suitcases for use back home.
This quote prompted an EPL spokesman (who really, on the basis of this quote, shouldn’t be allowed to speak publicly again) to chime in: “Nothing in our rules specifically prohibits musical instruments from being brought into grounds as these matters are dealt with at a club level. It will be down to stadium managers, in consultation with supporters groups, to determine what is appropriate.”
This kind of non-committal soundbite has the bookmakers involved, taking bets on which EPL team will be the first to issue a club-branded vuvuzela (my pick: West Ham, as there’s nothing Sullivan & Gold won’t sell for a quick buck).
It has me panicked. Personally, I don’t mind them that much, but an awful lot of us do, and I’m not sure I can handle the backlash of trumpet sounds and potential vuvuzela-related violence that’ll ensue up and down the EPL. I mean, all we’re supposed to hear in the stands are abusive chants towards the referee and the opposing team, right? Can’t have that drowned out by a $5 plastic trumpet.
anyone else read Dash’s harebrained defense of the vuvuzela on DS today? it’s stupidity isn’t surprising and i get the impression the only reason he writes about soccer at all is because he’s being forced to do so. if it was just meant to antagonize us fans then i fell for it.
(personally speaking, the crowd participation is one of soccer’s allures, but i know that’s not the case with everyone)
I’m guessing these things follow the historical trend, and briefly appear everywhere, then gradually become less and less common outside of Africa. I mean, who wasn’t scared to death of Thunderstix taking over the world? But they ultimately only fit in a given time and place, and while they still pop up every now and then, they haven’t overtaken the world. Besides, no way the hardcore fans take up something that would drown out their chants…
tj /
Apologies if you guys have all seen this, but this is hilarious:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1286629/Stinker-England-wash-kit-sewage-leak-Wayne-Rooney-Ashley-Cole-miss-training.html
f*ck vuvuzelas
@jjf3 — I’d agree, if there weren’t thunderstix at the bar in DC for the opening games. I didn’t see them up close, but someone was using them as a promo (I think for something Mexican, b/c those were the only fans that had them).
this would be the beginning of the end of soccer as we know it. the vuvuzela is ruining everything. it’s ruining the world cup in fact as we speak. anyone wonder why there’s so few goals? it’s cause teams can’t hear each other, players can’t concentrate. no one can play because they constantly hear a terrible buzzing in their heads. yea, some people at home are used to them by now but it is much louder for the crowd and the players. also, it is ruining the sounds of the crowd. i love how the crowds react to the action on the pitch, but i literally can’t even hear goal celebrations this world cup. it’s just constant buzzing and nothing else. they need to be banned from the world cup at least, but they sure as hell cannot make it outside of South Africa. they would ruin everything for all of us. we can put up with these godawful things for 1 month, but i never want to hear them again
Sweet Jesus, you mean I might have to keep listening to this hornets’ nest when I watch the Gunners next season? Gah. Personally, I find them really damn obnoxious and the decibel level is supposed to be really high.
I was at a stadium and if you have earplugs it’s not bad at all, but I have sensitive ears.
Personally I don’t want to see these invade any other league besides the s.african .I like the epl because you can hear when a player hits the ball or the cross bar.
I also like the chanting, the vuvuzelas are dumb chants since they’re like boredom busters(no unity between fans is the reason).
And they thought they’d help SAfrica do well, but became 1st host nation to drop out from group stage, classic.