Vuvuzela - The Soccer Horn

Until this year, few people have ever associated sports with musical instruments. You've probably never thought of basketball every time you've heard a theremin, or thought of rugby whenever you hear the sound of a harpsichord. But ever since the 2009 Confederations Cup, soccer has been associated with a traditional South African horn.

This soccer horn - better known as the vuvuzela - is currently one of the biggest trends in soccer fandom. Initially it was made of tin -- back when it was known simply as a traditional instrument among native South Africans. But these days the vuvuzela is usually made of plastic. It was first used as a soccer-related noisemaker by fans of rival teams the Orlando Pirates and Kaiser Chiefs. When the South African national team made it to the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, their fans brough vuvuzelas to the game... where they immediately caused a controversy.

What you may have guessed is that the vuvuzela is ridiculously loud. And when half the stadium has one, it sounds like nothing more than a swarm of giant mutant bees terrorizing the game. If you're a player, trying to concentrate on stealing a ball or defending a goal net, those bees can be somewhat distracting. Hence the controversy.

Some fans and commentators feel that the horns shouldn't be allowed at professional games. FIFA has given vuvuzelas their approval over the protests of some European and South American fans, players and broadcasters. Those folks think the vuvuzela is little more than a party noisemaker.

In Austria, soccer officials have banned the horns -- against FIFA wishes. Claiming fans can use vuvuzelas as missiles to heave at players or other fans, stadium bosses no longer allow them. Other detractors claim the noise is just too jarring for everyone.

But supporters of the vuvuzela claim the horn is a colorful and important aspect of South African culture, and banning it would be no more fair than banning chanting at English games, or cow bells at Swiss games.

Because of FIFA's approval, the vuvuzela will be allowed at coming World Cup games. And as soccer grows in popularity worldwide, it's unlikely the horns will disappear from games forever.

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