Vuvuzelas Aren’t Going Anywhere, Despite Complaints

Some players claim the incessant noise makes it hard to concentrate, television viewers say the plastic horns drown out commentary and excited sounds of the crowd and earplugs have become a must-have for fans in the stadiums. 

But love it or hate it, the iconic South African vuvuzela will remain a fixture during matches at the World Cup, an organizer says.

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo is the latest to launch a complaint about the instrument, which produces a noise that’s been compared to a nest of angry bees. He says the sound makes it hard for players to concentrate on the game.

The captain of the French squad, Patrice Evra, claims it was the vuvuzela that was responsible for his team’s lacklustre performance in its opening game against Uruguay. That match was scoreless.

Evra also said he’s not getting the sleep he needs. He says fans start blowing the horns around 6am.

And Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk is also annoyed by the horns. He said asking players to wear earplugs isn’t an option. The Netherlands coach has also complained about the Jabulani ball. His team is facing off against Denmark Monday morning.

The plastic horns emit a noise louder than a drum or a referee’s whistle, according to a recent report, which also indicates the instruments aren’t going anywhere.

World Cup organizer Rich Mkhondo said the vuvuzela is a much-loved instrument in South Africa and will remain a fixture throughout the tournament.

And FIFA President Sepp Blatter defended the horns and posed the following question on Twitter: “Would you want to see a ban on the fan traditions in your country?”

Monday’s World Cup Matches:

Netherlands vs Denmark (2-0)
Japan vs Cameroon
Italy vs Paraguay