The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kelvin Cruz, reaffirmed this Sunday that the Dominican Republic prohibits the national football team of Haiti and any team from the country from playing matches in their stadiums. The measure responds to the incidents that occurred on October 1 at the Olympic Stadium Félix Sánchez, when altercations were registered during the match between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Reiteration of the official position
Cruz recalled that the position had already been communicated on October 1 and that President Luis Abinader confirmed it minutes later, making it the official policy of the government. The decision is made public with the motive of a match scheduled for next Tuesday between Violette AC of Haiti and Portmore United of Jamaica, at the Cibao Football Club Stadium in Santiago, which is part of the semifinal phase of the Caribbean Football Cup of the Concacaf (CFU).
Motivation and consequences
The minister explained that the measure aims to avoid inconveniences in the programming of future sports events in the country that include Haitian representations and facilitate their reprogramming in other jurisdictions. In addition, he announced that he will send an official communication to international football organizations, such as FIFA and Concacaf, informing them of the Dominican decision.
Background of the incident
The October 1 altercations included complaints from players, referees, and fans, generating concern for security and order in Dominican stadiums. The Ministry of Sports had previously established its position on events involving Haiti, after the events that occurred at the Olympic Félix Sánchez Stadium.
Repercussions for regional football
With the ban, Haitian teams will have to seek stadiums abroad for their matches, which may generate additional costs and complex logistics. The measure also highlights the need to strengthen security protocols in regional tournaments.
Credits: deultimominuto.com
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