20100614
africanews

The world football governing body FIFA is not going to ban the cheering instrument, the vuvuzela from stadiums in South Africa. Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the latest to join the campaign against the popular plastic blowing object saying it disrupts players' attention on the field.

"It is difficult for anyone on the pitch to concentrate," said the Real Madrid forward. "A lot of players don't like them but they are going to have to get used to them."

"Let us not make this a South Africa instrument alone.

“A vuvuzela is now an international instrument. People buy them and stuff them in their suitcase to go home.

"Only a minority are against vuvuzelas. You either love them or hate. We in South Africa love them," Rich Mkhondo, a World Cup spokesman said.

According to the BBC, England defender Jamie Carragher said the noise did not bother him when he came on as a half-time substitute during the 1-1 draw with the United States and he said he had already bought two to take home to his children in Liverpool.

"When I came on I didn't notice it too much. I think you notice it more when you are watching on TV," he said. "But my kids have been on the phone and asked for two so I'll have to take two home for them. I've got two in my bag already.

"Anyone who watches me play at Anfield will know that I am louder than the vuvuzelas!"

Fifa president Sepp Blatter also weighed into the debate and believes vuvuzelas are part and parcel of football in South Africa.

"I have always said that Africa has a different rhythm, a different sound," he commented on social networking site Twitter.

"I don't see banning the music traditions of fans in their own country. Would you want to see a ban on the fan traditions in your country?"

A recent survey found that the sound emitted by a vuvuzela was the equivalent to 127 decibels - louder than a drum's 122 decibels or a referee's whistle at 121.8 decibels.