Football World Cup: Outrage over bear playing vuvuzela

  • 15/06/2018

A controversial video showing a Russian bear playing a vuvuzela has emerged on social media, after Russia's emphatic 5 -0 win over Saudi Arabia in the opening game of the Football World Cup.

A football journalist used his phone to film the strange scenes unfolding in front of him on the streets of Moscow - the bear sitting the back seat of a jeep with the instrument.

On the original post made by Peter Staunton, many  comments questioned if the bear was real, while others were furious at what they just watched.

"Hope it mauls the cruel and senseless human beings," one person said. "Poor thing."

Another posted: "Breaks my heart. How people can stand and laugh is beyond me.

"The amount of abuse that bear has lived through makes me feel sick."

A vuvuzela is a plastic horn that produces an irritating, high- pitched sound that drove fans crazy at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and eventually led FIFA to ban musical instruments from international football..

They first made its name at football matches during the 2009 confederations cup and were heavily used during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Performing bears have long been a controversial aspect of Russian culture, condemned by animal activists around the world.

In April, a bear performed in front of fans before a Russian football league match between Mashuk-KMV and Angusht in Pyatigorsk, sparking outrage among  animal welfare groups.

The bear handed the matchball to the referee, before the third-tier game and then clapped to fans, while it stood on his hind legs.

Newshub.