• Germany edition
Photo: DPA

Drunk football fan beats police officer with vuvuzela

Published: 24 Jun 10 16:57 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20100624-28089.html

A drunken German football fan severely beat a police officer with a vuvuzela horn after the national team’s victory over Ghana on Wednesday night, the authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia said on Thursday.

Most of the celebrations in the town of Dinslaken just north of Duisburg were peaceful after the game, which more than 10,000 people turned out to watch, the Wesel county police department reported.

But at 11:10 pm, one intoxicated 20-year-old fan began taunting a police officer who was directing traffic around a gathering of some 1,500 people.

“As he turned to the 20-year-old, the man suddenly began hitting and kicking the officer,” the statement said. “Furthermore he began pounding the officer’s head with a vuvuzela.”

The officer was rendered incapable for duty by “severe injuries” to his head, the statement added.

Meanwhile three “courageous” bystanders jumped in to help subdue the vuvuzela-wielding attacker, who put up so much resistance that police needed assistance to make the arrest.

Vuvuzelas, the South African plastic stadium horns introduced to the world at this year's World Cup tournament, are controversial in Germany due to what many consider their irritating sound. But until now only their deafening din has been considered a 'weapon' used for distracting players on the pitch.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

#1
18:07 June 24, 2010 by NYsteve
I thought in Germany they were supposed to be made in 3 pieces....so they COULDN'T be used as a weapon????????
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#2
18:57 June 24, 2010 by loneplains
Cheers for the three who intervened to help the police officer. There are still decent people who know what is right - and the courage to act on it.
Report abuse »
#3
19:20 June 24, 2010 by Gonzalo Fargenkneipper
"Severely beaten" with a vuvuzela?

Did the officer forget how to use his "vuvu-Glock"?
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#4
19:54 June 24, 2010 by cocovelvet
If at all the vuvuzelas are controversial in Germany, why are fans then still running around with them here? I was actually surprised to see even elderly fans carrying and blowing them after the Germany-Ghana match , after learning that a lot of people complain about their noise.....

Anyway, was that idiot completely out of his mind with excitement by beating up a police officer with that ding ??!!
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#5
21:52 June 24, 2010 by Der Grenadier aus Aachen
The fact that three people decided to help the police officer gives me some small hope for humanity.

However, the fact that those damned vuvuzela things are all over the place...eh...
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#6
23:51 June 24, 2010 by Prufrock2010
A lone drunken German hooligan armed with a plastic horn. That should be an inspiration to all like-minded English football fans.
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#7
07:28 June 25, 2010 by jeremyblows
Should have performed a beat down on the drunken fan. Gives the regular guy a chance to kick the crap out of someone without repercussions from the law.

jeremy and tom are gay.
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#8
12:21 June 25, 2010 by frankiep
these ridiculous vuvuzuelas are nothing more than a virus that is infecting the world. Is there anything more annoying and headache inducing than listening to some degenerate (or 50,000 degenerates) blowing on them?
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#9
15:47 June 25, 2010 by LancashireLad
Come on Prufrock.

It's been a while since the English fans have caused as much trouble as they used to. You can't say we've not cleaned up our act.

Mind you, the aftermath of Sunday's match could, sadly, be interesting given the intense footballing rivalry between us.
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#10
17:38 June 25, 2010 by scoobydube
The NEXT time a polozeist is approached by a person with one of those vuvuzelas, may I suggest that the polozeist take that horn and shove it up the fan's A**HOLE without lubrication..................But that is what an American(that was stationed at RAMSTEIN AB once), has to say to this story................
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#11
08:02 June 26, 2010 by deedee5
COMMENT #4- Gonzalo:

'vuvu-glock'? Oh man...you just about killed me...I haven't laughed so hard for a long time. Too too funny. Brilliant.
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#12
22:48 June 26, 2010 by snorge
So... Apparently it's not just their sound that gives you a headache....
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#13
11:20 June 27, 2010 by MichaSeifert-Weiss
What is wrong with so many posters here? Where is the humour in this violence? I find it shocking and completely unacceptable that aggression such as this man has shown could be the source of amusement or inspiration for others. The police are very good, tolerant, helpful and dutiful in my experience in Nordrhein-Westfalen (as in most of Germany) and they deserve respect and support. I really hope that this 20 year old is taught a meaningful lesson in court and that is the end for those horns now in Germany, with the government or court drawing a link between a ban and this man and his behaviour. One accepts the noise but never the violence.
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#14
08:05 June 29, 2010 by JAMessersmith
Oh c'mon Micha... where's your sadistic sense of humor? The headline alone is brilliant. I'm far more upset with the fact that "vuvuzela" has been added to the lexicon, so it's about time someone was beaten over the head with one, as far as I'm concerned. Sure, it would be preferable if it was someone other than a cop (given that they dedicate their lives to protecting average citizens), but it's amusing nonetheless.
Report abuse »
#15
05:13 July 8, 2010 by VSW
Holy cr@p this is by far the funniest blog on vuvuzella's I have seen! The comments have kept me entertained for a good 1/2 an hour. I thought this link was quite relevant ....... its on youtube under vuvuzella amp energy juice!
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