Open Season

Should we ban Japan from next year's World Cup?
 
Well, why not?
 
It's as reasonable an idea as the call by Japan Football Association President Motoaki Inukai to ban vuvuzela trumpets at next year's tournament.
 
"We have requested that the South African FA cut that noise out," Inukai told the Sankei Sports newspaper.
 
"You can't hear yourself speak," Inukai said after Japan's 0-0 draw with South Africa in Port Elizabeth last weekend. "I will be bringing it up (with FIFA president Sepp Blatter)."
 
Japan defender Marcus "Tulio" Tanaka chimed in: "You can't hear what your team mates are saying from two metres away. You have to go up to them to give instructions."
 
Oh, well, boo hoo to all of you.
 
Last time I checked, football matches, even at heavily corporatised high end games we see within professional leagues and at the World Cup, are played in stadiums attended by the public – not in libraries nor reverential churches.
 
And the second-last time I checked, the input of paying spectators at matches (let's call these people "fans") contributes 100 per cent to the experience and is a significant reason for getting off the couch, away from the TV, and to an actual game.
 
In Korea in 2002, we "put up" with Reds supporters and their drums.
 
In Japan, at the same tournament, we "put up" with high-level Japanese supporter coordination, led by bullhorn wielding cheerleaders.
 
Oh, and did I mention the "annoying" Japanese habit of cleaning up their ticker tape mess after each game?
 
That was a disgrace and should be BANNED.
 
The vuvuzela is part of the South African fan experience.



Here's news from the vuvuzela factory.


 
And lessons from some locals, from South African TV.


 
Don't like it? Move the World Cup next door to Namibia.
 
If players, coaches, and broadcasters still don't abide, they could consider a career in chess.
 
"Perhaps if they play good football, the fans will be quiet and watch," Japan coach Takeshi Okada said, trying to contribute to the debate but perhaps only highlighting the disconnect between officials and fans.
 
FIFA, though, is smartly showing whose side it is on and refuses to ban the vuvuzela from World Cup matches.
 
"That would mean one would have to take away the cow bells from Swiss fans and ban English fans from singing," said Hans Klaus, FIFA spokesman.
 
Although to be fair, a blanket ban on "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi! Oi! Oi!" might not be such a bad idea.


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