Droning of vuvuzelas blown away by Uefa ban

Vuvuzelas have been kicked out of European competitions after Uefa said the controversial plastic trumpets drowned out supporters and detracted from the emotion of the game.

The plastic horns became a hallmark of the World Cup finals in South Africa, producing a monotonous droning sound, often likened to a swarm of bees, that accompanied every match.

But they will not be allowed in stadiums in Uefa competitions such as the Champions League, Europa League and Euro 2012 qualifiers after Uefa's ruling yesterday.

"European football's governing body has informed its 53 member associations that it has taken the move for reasons related to Europe's football culture and tradition, saying that the atmosphere at matches would be changed by the sound of the vuvuzela," said Uefa in a statement.

"The World Cup was characterised by the vuvuzela's widespread and permanent use in the stands. In the specific context of South Africa, the vuvuzela adds a touch of local flavour and folklore, but Uefa feels the instrument's widespread use would not be appropriate in Europe, where a continuous loud background noise would be emphasised."

The statement then continued with a clear criticism of the controversial instrument. "The magic of football consists of the two-way exchange of emotions between the pitch and the stands, where the public can transmit a full range of feelings to the players," it stated.

"However, Uefa is of the view that the vuvuzelas would completely change the atmosphere, drowning supporter emotions and detracting from the experience of the game. . . Uefa has decided with immediate effect that vuvuzelas will not be allowed in the stadiums where Uefa competition matches are played."