Beach balls, horns and hooters banned from Asian Cup
SOCCER chiefs say they’re not the fun police, despite banning beach balls, horns, hooters and vuvuzelas from the Asian Cup.
SOCCER chiefs say they’re not the fun police, despite banning beach balls, horns, hooters and vuvuzelas from the Asian Cup, which kicks off in Melbourne on Friday.
The size of banners and posters waved by fans has also been restricted as authorities focus on safety amid heightened terror fears at the biggest soccer tournament ever staged in Australia.
Police and security guards will swamp AAMI Park to search for troublemakers looking to spoil the opening ceremony and launch match between Australia and Kuwait.
Football Federation Australia boss David Gallop said fans would be encouraged to cheer and dance in the stands as Melbourne opens the 23-day tournament before a crowd of about 30,000.
But megaphones, hooters or gas-powered horns, including vuvuzelas, which were a feature of the 2010 South Africa World Cup, would not be permitted and anyone caught with them would be evicted.
“We’ve been careful to encourage fans to have a good time without ruining the enjoyment of others,’’ he said.
“We’re expecting a lot of smiling faces inside the ground but clearly we don’t want to see poor behaviour damaging the experience for others.’’
Under admission rules, banners and flags must be no bigger or wider than 250cm, and flagpoles must be made of plastic or wood and no longer than 1.5m.
Cans, bottles and breakable containers have also been banned, and police and security have the power to search fans for flares and fireworks.
Asian Cup spokesman Chetan Kulkarni said beach balls had been banned because they could enter the field of play.
Inflatable toys such as kangaroos would be allowed, he said: “Reason — better fan atmosphere.”
“However, if any such toy causes security issue or blocks the view of cameras or other spectators, security will ask it to be relocated or deflated,’’ he added.
Melbourne will host seven Asian Cup matches including a quarter-final on January 22.
Mr Gallop said Melbourne was the “perfect place’’ to launch the tournament, with the opening ceremony to focus on the “vibrancy and youth of Asia’’ .
“There will be a festive atmosphere to this event similar to the FIFA World Cup,’’ he said.
BANNED
Beach balls, banners and/or flags bigger than 250cm at their widest or longest section; metal flagpoles and flagpoles longer than 1.5m; megaphones, hooters or gas-powered horns, including vuvuzelas; missiles, including cans, bottles and breakable containers; flares and fireworks; confetti or shredded paper; laser pointers; skateboards, in-line skates and bikes; political flags, emblems and insignia; weapons.