Hehehe Opionated2... but if I have both my fingers in my ears, who will hold my orange juice (read: wine)?

Yes we just turn down the sound, but many would've loved to hear the supporters instead of the constant droning, deafening noise. It's TRADITION to listen to the supporters cheering-on the team that is on the ball, and the particular songs and cheers that each country sing to support their team is just part of the fun. All of that has been lost.

Oh btw, here are a few tips to keep or get your beer cool while watching the game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5_5-lN4T-E

or:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHEQ3D3HdtE&feature=related

or else:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCy_Uk5vjw0&feature=related

That's an interesting article about the religious background of these vuvuzela, CF.
"The administrators have rocks in their heads for putting recent 'tradition' above health and safety. "
Agreed, but did you mean, 'Rocks in their ears'? (Now that's an idea).
But seriously, I fully agree that this is noise pollution and could've been banned for OH&S reasons.
I take your word for the decibels update- I didn't know it was THAT loud!
It may disable the players to communicate on the field esp. if they can't cope with the constant noise and need to play with ear plugs in.
Ignoring the referee will result in a penalty.

First, the vuvezelas were manufactured in plastic instead of metal because long metal objects were a safety issue. Safety trumped tradition.
So it's logical that they should have been manufactured with cardboard instead of plastic because the noise is STILL an OHS issue.

The religions that are responsible for that racket should be forced to nurse their victims' ear-health for life :)
What kind of God would like this kind of racket? A hearing impaired God?

OMG Celvia you really are Dutch....lol

You put a finger in each ear and sit on the floor drinking your orange juice (wine) through a straw...lol That way you can slowly slump down and sleep when your tired without changing locations...lol

And they say women can multitask...lol

As for the noise, don't take my word for it (that is what google is for) but I'll do it seeing you have your fingers stuck in your ears...lol

http://www.breakingglobalnews.com/world-cup-horn-2/1228783

Apparently the players are really upset as they now have to project much louder the fake cries of agony when they are acting like they have an injury...lol

Perhaps if the referees carried some bandaids...the game wouldn't be held up for so long as the bandaid would kiss the terribly painful fake injury better.

Now just to show you a real footballer's injury...

Please don't watch if your have a squeemy stomach

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX2yxGK5ZZw&feature=related

And he hardly even said OUCH!... But I will OUCH!

Granted the cry of pain is helpful but what about some text of suggested cries of agony to go with the facial contortions directed at the umpire?

The world's best player has to have the world's best dive (note the eye contact with the referee all the way to the ground):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82ochcQ56Es

But even the world's best diver has to get booked sometime (there should be music to that):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBBhYrWZnFM&NR=1

Only in soccer do you hear commentators referring to players as "winning" penalties. That is so wrong.

Opi, so funny, you deserve a tulip in your hair.
Yes they do act sometimes, don't they? Annoying, especially if they play against your favourite team!
But on the other hand, I understand that when contact has been made, they need to get the message accross that body contact happened. It works better than walking up to a referee and saying, "Excuse me please, but blah blah made body contact with me."

Opi, wouldn't the definition of a footballer be.. "one who spends time on the field playing football", instead of "one who spends time off the field sulking in hospital with broken legs/ribs"? What good is a player to his team when he ends up in hospital or is unable to play for weeks or months?

But yes of course these dives CF showed are unnecessary.
But unnecessary things happen in every sport.

Was this necessary?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZFCsBvkIcc

I find it hard to believe that these players were not sent to the bench. Violence should not be tolerated. Violence in football/rugby is almost to the point of being glorified.
Why is this behaviour tolerated in rugby/football?
A little slap on the wrist ain't going to prevent this kind of violence in future games.
Soccer players are punished much more severely than Rugby/AFL players because they are given a red card, sent to the bench and their whole team will have to deal with the loss. No cuddles from referees after they have been violent, unlike in Rugby/AFL.
Let them take responsibility, let the team play with one or two fewer players like it happens with REAL football.

No wonder that these Rugby/AFL players are generally more violent also off the field than soccer players are.

The World Cup ?

EEEEEEEEUUUUOOOOWWWWWWWWWW that NOISE drives me bonkers.

Continuous...monotone... on and on and on...and on....

and on...

Like this post :)

Celivia

That tackle on You Tube was all looks. The scuffle after was pushing and shoving. Nothing to get worried about. It was a terrific game though, did you watch?

Ever watched water polo or hockey? What about ice hockey?