• North London clubs united in opposition to horns
• West Ham also decide to ban them for ’safety reasons’
Arsenal have followed north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in banning vuvuzelas from their ground.
The horns proved controversial during the recent World Cup in South Africa with some fans critical of the droning noise they created while others believed they added to the atmosphere.
Spurs became the first Premier League club to ban vuvuzelas last night and Arsenal followed suit today by announcing they were not welcome at Emirates Stadium. West Ham have also banned the instruments.
“Further to their hugely debated involvement at this summer’s World Cup Finals in South Africa, Arsenal Football Club has decided to forbid the use of vuvuzelas within Emirates Stadium with immediate effect,” a statement on the club’s official website read. “This decision has been taken to ensure the enjoyment and safety of supporters on matchdays, which is of paramount importance to the club.”
West Ham stated that using vuvuzelas would contravene existing safety regulations. “Under the current health and safety regulations at the stadium, which already disallows musical bands, we would not allow them into the stadium as they could be considered a weapon and could also be considered to be an annoyance to others,” a club statement said. “The health and safety regulation that all of this comes under is already in place.”
Blackpool, meanwhile, have dismissed suggestions they might welcome vuvuzelas at Bloomfield Road in the hope of intimidating opponents during their debut season in the Premier League .
A club spokesman said: “We haven’t really given any full consideration to vuvuzelas at the moment. We’ve had plenty of other things occupying the mind with a debut season in the Premier League to prepare for. Any decision will be taken in due course and in consultation with relevant supporter groups.”
A statement added that the club’s previous assertion they are keen to ensure the atmosphere is better than ever “does not necessarily mean that vuvuzelas will be permitted”.
The Bloomfield Road stadium currently has just three sides. The club are hastily trying to build a new East Stand to take the capacity to 16,900, but their opening game against Wigan has been switched to the DW Stadium to buy them more time.
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