The constant droning foghorn din that was audible during every single Confederations Cup match was the result of an instrument known as a vuvuzela. The noisy plastic trumpets are very popular in South Africa, and are often blown by home fans in a frantic attempt to “kill off” the opposition.
Not only are they irritating, but they could also be used as a weapon, and perhaps a cynical instrument of marketing by opportunist companies who plaster their logos all over them.
After crashing out to the USA amidst a deafening chorus, Xabi Alonso made his views on the vuvuzela clear:
“I think they should be banned. We’re used to when people shout but not to this trumpet noise which doesn’t allow you to concentrate and is unbearable.”
Alonso’s Spanish team-mates obviously didn’t share his opinions, as these pictures from Madrid Airport show. Fernando Torres must have been a particular fan of the insufferable noise, as he was proudly carrying two of them on his trolley.
Many have asked for vuvuzelas to be banned during World Cup 2010, but in-touch-with-the-people FIFA President Sepp Blatter opposes the idea, saying we should not try and “Europeanise” the World Cup.
*We apologise for the thoroughly crappy modifications made to the top pic. Blame ONTD for that.
With the 2008/09 campaign finally over, The Spoiler continues to take a look back (part 1 is over here in case you missed it) at the season’s finest goals and our nominations for the ten greatest efforts. Surprisingly, only two strikers make the list…
#10: Fernando Torres - Liverpool 4-0 Blackburn, 11/04/09
Would Liverpool’s season have ended in league glory had Fernando Torres managed to avoid injury? We’ll never know - but surely fans would’ve been treated to more gems like this. Nonchalantly foregoing the traditional practice of actually checking where the net is before hitting the ball, the number 9 scores a spectacular striker’s goal.
The world of football is plagued by slightly odd pre-match rituals: Fernando Torres likes to have three sets of kit ready for each game, while Deco insists on performing an a capella version of Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ in front of a picture of Luiz Felipe Scolari before stepping out on to the pitch.
Ok, so the Deco one isn’t strictly true (he actually sings Tears for Fears’ ‘Head Over Heels’), but news of an equally bizarre ritual reaches us from the pages of The Sun. Apparently, Huddersfield’s Malvin Kamara watches Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory before every game. Not the crappy Johnny Depp one mind, the proper one:
“The Depp one just offends me. I have to watch Wonka before every game. It gets me in the right mood.”It’s been my favourite film since I was little.”
Kamara claims to have viewed it over 150 times, claiming it “calms his nerves and brings him luck”. It’s the exact same reason The Spoiler watches A Night at the Roxbury at least once a night.
Do you know of any stranger pre-match rituals than this? Let us know below…
Sir Alex Ferguson has found a new reason to criticise Benitez
Video Credit: 101GG (watch from 33secs onwards)
The war of words between Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafael Benitez was reignited today when the Manchester United boss accused Rafa of showing “contempt” to Sam Allardyce because of a gesture he made after Liverpool scored their second in the 4-0 win over Blackburn last week.
Allardyce has also criticised Benitez’s actions, saying: “I think they are disrespectful and quite humiliating. I waited to have a word with Rafa Benitez in his room after the game but as usual, and unfortunately, he didn’t turn up.”
Based on those comments, The Spoiler was expecting to see Benitez
Chelsea dent ‘Pool’s Euro dream, Barca makes Bayern look rubbish
Liverpool 1/ Chelsea 3
Whoa! Who saw this scoreline coming? When Nando put the Reds ahead after six minutes, it looked as if Liverpool were on course for another famous Champions league evening. However, Michael Essien kept Steven Gerrard locked in a cage all night, and Guus Hiddink’s tactical nous prevailed.
Barcelona 4/ Bayern Munich 0
Well, that lucky sausage didn’t do the German’s much good, did it? Last night’s game at the Nou Camp was virtually over after fifteen minutes, leaving gaffer Jurgen Klinsmann in an uncharacteristically humble mood: “It shows that we’ve still got a lot of work to do to be in Europe’s top four.”
Spanish striker says the atmosphere won’t affect Real Madrid
When Juande Ramos claimed that the massively overhyped “famous Anfield roar” would have no effect on Real Madrid, it was widely considered to be a petty mind-game but his opinion has been backed up by Fernando Torres.
The Real Madrid boss said that visiting Liverpool would be no more special than experiencing the Bernabeu, Nou Camp or San Siro and his compatriot Torres has agreed that the home crowd won’t have much of an impact. He said:
“Anfield is special, but they won’t fear the scenery. The players of Madrid have played in the better stadiums, in the better competitions and it’s not going to impress them.”
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