No matter what nation you are routing for, the FIFA World Cup is an event that brings about national pride, a sense of belonging, and noisy horns. That’s right, noisy horns. These horns have been used at soccer matches for years, but are beginning to become a source of complaint from fans, players, television and radio networks. The horn in question is the vuvuzela, a three-foot-long plastic trumpet capable of creating ear piercing decibels. The horns have been used to create a buzz around the stadium.

When listening to coverage on Sirius XM radio, subscribers can always hear a buzz in the background that sounds like a wave of killer bees, or that nagging mosquito that fly’s around your ear non-stop. Television and radio broadcasts do their best to filter the noise, but, in an effort to keep the atmosphere of the game, can’t completely filter out the noise.

All of this may change as there is consideration to banning or limiting the use of the vuvuzela’s at the games. It is a sensative issue, bit clearly something has to be done. Teams, television networks, radio networks and even some fans dislike the droning sound.

As stated by the AP, “The vuvuzela is clearly much more than an irritating novelty; it’s a divisive issue that is threatening the health of fans, affecting the quality of performances and ultimately putting people off of tuning in (will you honestly feel enthused to watch Slovakia vs. Paraguay knowing you’ll have to endure 90 minutes of the sound of an angry beehive going through a blender?).”

For Sirius Xm listeners, you now know what that humming sound is, and why, no matter which game you hear, that sound seems to be a constant. It does not take away from the game or terrific coverage, but it is quite noticeable. If the rules do change, and the vuvuzela is banned, the listening experience will be that much better.

The U.S. tied England 1-1 in their first game.

AP Story

Position – Long Sirius XM Radio