English clubs act to ban vuvuzelas

Seven English Premier League clubs have banned use of vuvuzelas at their grounds in fear that they can be used as weapons.

Clubs fear the horns could injure fans or hit players if hurled on a pitch.

Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham, Everton, Birmingham City, Fulham and Liverpool have outlawed them.

West Ham branded vuvuzelas an "annoyance", adding: "Under health and safety regulations they could be considered a weapon."

Spurs called them "unnecessary risks" which might drown out emergency announcements, The Sun reports.

Ray Foy, head of security at Everton, said: "It isn't a case of being killjoys. We've received many emails asking that we ban them, but none urging us to permit their use."

The use of horns got support from ex-Spurs captain Gary Mabbutt.

He said: "I'd prefer them to hearing 40,000 fans calling the referee a lot of names ending in 'r'."