TV crews seeking "local colour" are likely to settle on fans not only blowing vuvuzelas but also wearing bright facepaint and wigs, the yellow shirt of the national team, Bafana Bafana, a pair of oversized spectacles and, in some cases, traditional Zulu animal skins with shield and spear. Viewers at home at least have the option of the remote control. So one South African company is already marketing foam earplugs specially designed for the World Cup. Certainly anyone who has been to the country's most famous club game, the Soweto derby between Kaiser Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, would be hard pushed to disagree.Ī ban is also unlikely because manufacturers and retailers are hoping to cash in from vuvuzela sales to thousands of visiting supporters. National standards for occupational noise require hearing protection for workers exposed to 85 decibels and above.īut Fifa has rejected calls for a ban on the vuvuzela, insisting it is an essential part of South Africa's footballing culture. The researchers said the average sound exposure during the near two hours was 100.5 decibels and peaked at 144.2 decibels. A study by academics from Pretoria and Florida universities tested the hearing of 11 spectators before and after they attended a South African Premier League match. Researchers even claim to have found evidence that vuvuzelas can lead to permanent hearing damage. They should put a ban on them."Įuropean broadcasters also raised objections that the vuvuzelas drowned out their match commentators, a scenario that could be repeated when South Africans are urged to make a big noise in support of the hosts against Mexico in the opening game on 11 June. "They don't contribute to the atmosphere in the stadium. "I find these vuvuzelas annoying," moaned Xabi Alonso, the Spain midfielder. Some players grumbled they could not hear each other or the referee. There was a taste of things to come at last year's Confederations Cup in South Africa.
Initially many will find this a charming local custom but once the novelty wears off there may be more than a few complaints of earache both inside stadiums and from TV audiences. The collective sound has been compared to a herd of blaring elephants or hive of angry bees. Viewers should expect a riot of colourful hats, exuberant dancing and exotic clichés but the first star of the tournament is likely to be a raucous plastic horn.įor years the metre-long vuvuzela has been blown by South African supporters with as much gusto as Louis Armstrong – but rather less melody. South Africa 2010 might just possibly be the first World Cup that most armchair fans prefer to watch with the volume turned down.