Soccer: Spurs say no to vuvuzelas

Tottenham have become the first English Premier League club to ban vuvuzelas from their home ground ahead of the new season, according to football website Soccernet.

The noisy horns caused much controversy at the World Cup in South Africa.

Fifa declared them a part of South Africa's cultural sporting atmosphere and allowed their use during the World Cup there, but other event organisers have not been so enthusiastic.

The horns have been banned from a number of sporting events since, including next year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

However, the Premier League said during the World Cup - where the noise made by vuvuzelas was one of the main talking points - that it would be left to individual clubs to decide whether to outlaw them. Soccernet reported.

Spurs have issued a statement on their official website ruling out their use next season.

"Following discussions with the Police and representatives from the local licensing authorities, the club will not be permitting vuvuzelas or similar instruments into White Hart Lane on match days," it read.

"We are concerned that the presence of the instruments within the stadium pose unnecessary risks to public safety and could impact on the ability of all supporters to hear any emergency safety announcements."

- NZHERALD STAFF