Bad Boy Benn Banned
Sulieman Benn
West Indies spinner Sulieman Benn has been suspended for breaching ICC conduct rules during last month’s third Test against South Africa.
The incident saw Benn inappropriately enter the opposition’s dressing-room at Kensington Oval, Barbados, provoking South Africa’s players and management. Benn pleaded guilty to behaviour “contrary to the spirit of the game”.
And because of previous violations he now faces a ban of one Test, or two ODIs, or two Twenty20s for the offence.
Jeff Crowe, of the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, said: “Whatever had gone on before Sulieman entered the Proteas’ dressing-room, while helping to explain his behaviour, cannot justify it.”
There had been an earlier on-field incident between Benn and South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn, who was fined his entire match fee after being found guilty of spitting in the direction of Benn.
“Clearly, Sulieman has acted inappropriately here and in a way that is contrary to the spirit of cricket,” said Crowe.
“We like the game to be played in a competitive way but, whether on or off the field, players must treat the opposition and the game itself with respect. That did not happen on this occasion and Sulieman has paid the price.”
Benn earned a ban of two one-day internationals following a confrontation with Australia players Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin during the Perth Test in December 2009.
Courtesy of BBC
No Racket From Vuvuzelas At Wimbledon
The plastic horns which have provided a constant drone at the World Cup in South Africa will be banned from the Grand Slam tournament, which starts Monday at the All England Club.
“Out of courtesy to the players and their fellow spectators, we make a point of asking spectators not to bring items which could either cause a distraction or interfere with the enjoyment of the occasion,” All England Club chief executive Ian Ritchie said in a statement Thursday.
“Rattles, klaxons and vuvuzelas all fall into that category and they will not be allowed into the grounds. Our message is do not bring them in the first place.”
In addition, organisers said World Cup games will not be broadcast on the big screens or scoreboards on the Wimbledon grounds. That has been Wimbledon’s policy with all World Cups and European Championships since 1998.
“We fully appreciate that a number of our visitors will be interested in the football World Cup,” Ritchie said. “Equally, however, the tennis is our first priority.”
Despite the measures, the World Cup will be sure to have an impact on Wimbledon. Many of the players are avid supporters of their national teams and will be asked about the football constantly during the two-week grass-court championships.
In past years, the men’s final at Wimbledon has come on the same day as the World Cup final. This year, however, the football final will be played a week later than the July 4 tennis showpiece.
With thanks to timesonline.co.za
BBC May Offer Vuvuzela-Free Matches
The BBC was investigating the possibility of transmitting an alternative “vuvuzela free” version of its World Cup coverage tonight, as the fierce debate over the buzz of the horn looked set to be heading for football grounds all over Britain.
As players, fans and coaches weighed in on whether the loud drone of the plastic horns was an annoying irritant or joyful expression of African culture, South African organisers hit back and encouraged visiting fans to export them back to their own countries.
At the same time, fans in Britain have been snapping up the horns at the rate of one every two seconds and suppliers claimed the UK had been gripped by “vuvuzela fever”.
“Vuvuzelas are here to stay and will never be banned,” said Rich Mkhondo, a spokesman for the local World Cup organising committee. “People love the vuvuzelas around the world. Only a minority are against vuvuzelas.”
The Premier League and the Football League said there was nothing in their rules to stop supporters bringing them to English grounds but the decision would rest with individual clubs.
“There is a good chance they will end up in our grounds because people will bring them back from the World Cup,” said a Football League spokesman. “It is a matter for individual clubs, as is the case with drums and other musical instruments.”
The drone of the vuvuzela has sparked an international debate since the tournament’s launch on Friday, with broadcasters inundated with complaints and arguments raging on radio phone-ins.
The BBC has received 220 complaints and, while it is committed to reflecting the atmosphere in the stadiums on its main coverage, it is believed to be looking into providing a so-called “clean” feed that would strip out the majority of crowd noise, via the red button.
South African organisers insisted today they were an important part of the atmosphere and would not be banned, despite the World Cup organising committee chief executive, Danny Jordaan, saying at the weekend that he personally preferred the sound of singing.
Critics have argued that the constant drone masks the ebb and flow of the game and drowns out the noise of the crowd.
The Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen said after today’s match with Holland that the constant noise meant he had to be no more than 10 yards away from his teammates and have eye contact to pass any messages.
Following his opening game, Argentina’s Lionel Messi said: “It is impossible to communicate, it’s like being deaf.”
But the South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, mindful of the value of home advantage, said after his team’s opening match that there weren’t enough vuvuzelas in the stadium and called on supporters to make more noise.
Even in South Africa, opinion is divided. Some put the wave of international criticism down to the effect of vuvuzelas being blown by enthusiastic visitors rather than the more expert exponents at South African Premier League matches.
But the organising committee called on overseas fans, who have been snapping up the horns, to export them.
“The vuvuzela is now an international instrument,” said a spokesman. “People will buy them and stuff them in their suitcases and take them home.”
England fans in the UK appear to be heeding his call; Sainsbury’s sold 22,000 red vuvuzelas – or “Vu Vu horns” as it brands them – in 12 hours before England’s game – one every two seconds. The supermarket chain has ordered 25,000 extra horns but thinks it may run out before Friday’s game against Algeria.
There were none left at Sainsbury’s in Emmersons Green, near Bristol. A few miles away in Chippenham, Wiltshire, half a dozen remained on the shelves.
Mike Brown was buying two for his children. “I could be making a terrible mistake but I think I’m going to have to make a rule that they can only blow them during the actual games. But the kids wanted them and I can’t resist it when they get excited about something like the World Cup.”
Amazon said sales had increased by 1,000%. David Broughton, from Northamptonshire-based company thevuvuzelaman.co.uk, said the country was gripped with “vuvuzela fever”.
“We sold 1,000 online over the weekend. Someone in Dubai has asked for 10,000. If anyone knows of half a million vuvuzelas lying around, they could get very rich,” he said.
World Cup organisers tried to draw a line under the issue of whether the instruments were good for the tournament. “This is a world event hosted by South Africa. As our guests, please embrace our culture and the way we celebrate,” said the spokesman.
“You either love them or you hate them. We in South Africa love them.”
With thanks to the Guardian.co.uk
Dutch Banned From Twitter During SWC
The Netherlands team warm down after a training session at Wits Stadium on June 9 in Johannesburg.
The Netherlands World Cup squad has been banned from using Twitter during the tournament after Eljero Elia sparked a racism row with comments on a live streaming video.
Viewers of the video – in which the winger appears to insult Moroccans – reacted angrily to Elia’s comments, forcing him to apologise and prompting Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk to impose the ban.
Defender Gregory van der Wiel said on his Twitter account the squad were no longer allowed to use it, and this was confirmed by Ryan Babel and Elia who both went offline.
On the video Elia and Babel are seen playing a computer game in their room in front of a webcam, with several other team members visiting them.
Elia apologised for his comments but insisted he had not intended to insult a group of people.
“I want to apologise to the Moroccan community but I am not a racist,” he told Dutch media.
“I grew up in The Hague in a neighbourhood with 75 percent Moroccans and have a lot of friends among them.
“What I said was meant for a friend of mine, Reduan, who always calls me ‘negro’… it sounds odd, but it is some slang.”
Van der Wiel last year learnt the hard way that Twitter comments can land you in hot water.
The defender pulled out of the Dutch squad for a friendly against Australia with concussion but said on Twitter that he had visited a concert the night the team travelled to Australia.
Netherlands start their World Cup campaign on Monday against Denmark.
With thanks to Stuff.co.nz
Bakkies Botha Banned For 4 Weeks
Bakkies Botha
Veteran Springbok and Bulls lock Bakkies Botha has been banned for four weeks, meaning he will miss both the Super 14 semifinal and possible Final.
The Bulls play the Crusaders in the semifinal in Soweto on Saturday and the winner will face the winner of the other semifinal – between the Stormers and Waratahs in Cape Town.
Botha will also miss the Boks’ first two Tests – against Wales in Cardiff on June 5 and France in Cape Town on June 12.
Botha attended a judicial hearing that lasted for four hours on Monday, at the offices of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union in Pretoria.
The Judicial Officer, Peter Ingwersen, announced that the Bok lock has been banned for four weeks.
The player, who captained the Bulls in their Super 14 match against the Stormers at Newlands Stadium on Saturday, was represented by Gerrie Swart.
Citing Commissioner Freek Burger cited Botha under Law 10.4 (h) for dangerously and recklessly entering a ruck without using his arms or grasping a player.
Botha made contact with Stormers right wing Gio Aplon in the second minute of the match.
Aplon required treatment on the field as a result.
Courtesy of iafrica.com
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