FIFA rules out vuvuzela red card
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
JOHANNESBURG, June 14 (AFP): FIFA Monday ruled out a ban on the vuvuzela horns which have been driving some players and broadcasters mad at the World Cup, as the makers revealed they had designed a toned-down version.
After the chairman of the tournament's South African organising committee had said he would consider a ban on the tuneless trumpets, football's governing body issued a swift rebuttal at a daily press briefing.
"Vuvuzelas will not be banned from the stadia," FIFA spokesman Stan Schaffner told reporters. He said FIFA and the organising committee had given "clear statements" against a ban.
His comments were intended to draw a line under speculation that the horns could be shown the red card, sparked by an interview given by organising committee chief Danny Jordaan.
Asked by the BBC if a ban was an option, Jordaan said: "If there are grounds to do so, yes."
"We have asked for no vuvuzelas during national anthems or during stadium announcements. I know it's a difficult question," he added, saying that "we're trying to manage the best we can."
The organising committee is a branch of FIFA and is ultimately subordinate to the sport's governing body.
After the chairman of the tournament's South African organising committee had said he would consider a ban on the tuneless trumpets, football's governing body issued a swift rebuttal at a daily press briefing.
"Vuvuzelas will not be banned from the stadia," FIFA spokesman Stan Schaffner told reporters. He said FIFA and the organising committee had given "clear statements" against a ban.
His comments were intended to draw a line under speculation that the horns could be shown the red card, sparked by an interview given by organising committee chief Danny Jordaan.
Asked by the BBC if a ban was an option, Jordaan said: "If there are grounds to do so, yes."
"We have asked for no vuvuzelas during national anthems or during stadium announcements. I know it's a difficult question," he added, saying that "we're trying to manage the best we can."
The organising committee is a branch of FIFA and is ultimately subordinate to the sport's governing body.