Tottenham Hotspur Bans Vuvuzelas From Soccer Stadium on Safety Concerns
Tottenham Hotspur banned vuvuzela horns from its soccer stadium, becoming the first English Premier League club to outlaw the plastic instruments heard droning throughout the World Cup in South Africa.
Tottenham said it made the decision to prohibit fans from bringing vuvuzelas or similar instruments into White Hart Lane on match days following discussions with the police and local licensing authorities.
“We are concerned that the presence of the instruments within the stadium pose unnecessary risks to public safety and could impact on the ability of all supporters to hear any emergency safety announcements,” the London club said yesterday in a statement on its website.
The Premier League said during the World Cup that it would be left to individual clubs to decide whether to ban the vuvuzela, which is said to mean “to make a loud noise” in Zulu. Tottenham opens the 2010-11 league season Aug. 14 at home to Manchester City.
The drone of vuvuzelas became part of the experience of the first World Cup hosted in Africa. Fans blew them throughout games, drowning out the players’ attempts to communicate and stadium announcements. Hearing aid maker Phonak AG estimates the noise reaches 127 decibels, louder than a chainsaw.
“We are very proud of the fantastic atmosphere that our supporters produce organically at White Hart Lane and we are all very much looking forward to this continuing into the forthcoming season,” Tottenham added in the statement.
Tottenham said it made the decision to prohibit fans from bringing vuvuzelas or similar instruments into White Hart Lane on match days following discussions with the police and local licensing authorities.
“We are concerned that the presence of the instruments within the stadium pose unnecessary risks to public safety and could impact on the ability of all supporters to hear any emergency safety announcements,” the London club said yesterday in a statement on its website.
The Premier League said during the World Cup that it would be left to individual clubs to decide whether to ban the vuvuzela, which is said to mean “to make a loud noise” in Zulu. Tottenham opens the 2010-11 league season Aug. 14 at home to Manchester City.
The drone of vuvuzelas became part of the experience of the first World Cup hosted in Africa. Fans blew them throughout games, drowning out the players’ attempts to communicate and stadium announcements. Hearing aid maker Phonak AG estimates the noise reaches 127 decibels, louder than a chainsaw.
“We are very proud of the fantastic atmosphere that our supporters produce organically at White Hart Lane and we are all very much looking forward to this continuing into the forthcoming season,” Tottenham added in the statement.
