Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham join the vuvuzela ban
Published 23:00 20/07/10 By Simon Bird
The vuvuzela is facing a worldwide sporting ban - with Premier League acting fast.
Arsenal outlawed them from the Emirates on Tuesday and Spurs, presumably not wanting to offend their neighbours, warned White Hart Lane will echo only to the sound of traditional cheering next season.
The 2ft long horns may have become the symbol of the World Cup - but top flight club's are queuing up to stop fans using them next season.
The instrument has been blamed for ruining the World Cup atmosphere and drowning out crowd noise with a monotone bees hum.
West Ham joined the clamour to ban them and Birmingham added their name to the clubs blacklisting them, warning fans they will not be allowed in their grounds. And there is also a global backlash against the trumpets.
The instrument caused much annoyance to players and TV stations in South Africa. The 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand will also forbid them at stadia, and for recent matches against South Africa.
Rugby grounds in South Africa banned them years ago.
A host of football clubs who have already had requests from fans for a ban, are expected to follow the lead of their rivals a bid to preserve the English game's atmosphere, with fears that safety announcements will go unheard also being cited.
Vuvuzelas became such a symbol of the football celebration in South Africa that parents named their June born babies "Vuvu" in tribute.
Doctors have warned they can permanently damage hearing if blown to close to the ear, and one fan wrecked his wind-pipe blowing too vigorously during the World Cup. Medics at the University of Pretoria claimed that eardrums should not be exposed to vuvuzelas for more than 15 minutes a day.
Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine also found they could spread flu and cold germs by blasting tiny water droplets around crowds.
The 2012 Olympics will not allow vuvuzelas, neither will Wimbledon and even music events this summer have also acted.
Has your club banned vuvuzelas? Find out with our guide to every Premier League club's stance
