FIFA rules out vuvuzela red card

FIFA yesterday 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 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 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.

Jordaan's comments came after complaints from players and broadcasters who said their commentators are struggling to make themselves heard above the noise which has been compared to a hornets' nest.