The Dominican Republic has banned Haiti’s national soccer team from using its sports venues following disturbances at a Concacaf Nations League match. The ban was announced on Friday by Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz, citing crowd trouble that occurred prior to the match on Thursday at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo.
During the incidents, video footage shared on social media showed fans attempting to force their way through entrances, resulting in damage to one gate. Cruz condemned the situation, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards indiscipline at sporting events. “What we saw yesterday… is unacceptable,” he stated.
The decision received support from Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader. As of now, the Haitian Football Federation has not commented publicly on the ban.
Following the match, which Haiti won 4-1, the Haitian Football Federation described the event as a “beautiful night for Haiti, beautiful night for the island we share,” stressing the importance of respect in sports despite competitive tensions. Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor scored two goals during the match, which increased Haiti’s total points in Group A to nine, while the Dominican Republic remained at six points. Haiti is scheduled to face Costa Rica in San Jose on Sunday.
Isidor made a controversial remark during a post-match celebration, stating, “Hispaniola is Haiti,” which was criticized by Dominican Federation President Jose Deschamps as a breach of national sovereignty. He indicated that the federation would file complaints with FIFA and Concacaf regarding the incident. Both governing bodies have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the situation.
The Haitian embassy in Santo Domingo issued a statement clarifying that Isidor’s comments did not represent the position of the Haitian government and expressed gratitude to Dominican authorities for hosting the event. The embassy emphasized the need for good neighborly relations despite sporting rivalries.
The tensions between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, often strained over migration and border issues, have previously spilled into sports. In 2023, the Dominican Republic’s government closed the border over a disagreement about a Haitian canal, which led Haiti’s sports ministry to restrict its national team from playing matches in the Dominican Republic.
