21 July ~ The majority of football clubs look set to jump on the anti-vuvuzela bandwagon by banning the controversial instrument from games next season. Ryman Division One South side Whyteleafe became the first club in the country to officially prohibit the vuvuzela and, since then, others have followed suit.

The latest decision is in stark contrast to a month ago when the issue was not even recognised by most clubs. There were even rumours of several sides following Celtic's approach and marketing their own branded official version for fans. Interestingly, the FA have not sanctioned any bans of the instrument for the upcoming Community Shield, so fans attending and watching should prepare themselves for a déjà vu moment.

During the World Cup, much was made of the vuvuzela and its effect on the atmosphere, with non-stop buzzing effectively drowning out any indication of cheers and chants. However, there has recently been further weight added to the argument against the object. Not only can a vuvuzela damage hearing but also spread flu and cold germs, according to researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. West Ham have even claimed that it could used as "a weapon". The sight and sound of rival fans making parping drones would likely provoke more annoyance than worry though. Peter Lam

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