SANTO DOMINGO, Oct 2 – The Dominican Republic has prohibited Haiti’s national soccer team from playing at its stadiums following disturbances at a Concacaf Nations League match between the two countries. The ban was announced by Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz after incidents occurred outside the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo on Thursday night.
Video footage shared on social media showed fans pushing through entry points, leading to damage at one gate. Cruz criticized the events, stating, “What we saw yesterday with a gate at the Felix Sanchez, a sports facility that has cost millions and millions of pesos to make it shine, is unacceptable,” and reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy towards disorderly conduct.
Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader expressed support for the decision. The Haitian Football Federation did not respond immediately to a request for comment regarding the ban.
Following the match, which Haiti won 4-1, the Haitian Football Federation described it as a “beautiful night for Haiti, beautiful night for the island we share.” They emphasized a message of competition on the field while respecting neighborly relations off it. Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor notably scored two goals in the victory, which secured Haiti nine points in Group A, while the Dominican Republic remained with six points.
During a post-match celebration, Isidor stated, “Hispaniola is Haiti,” referring to the Caribbean island shared by both nations. This remark was condemned by the president of the Dominican federation, Jose Deschamps, who labeled it as “a lack of respect for national sovereignty” and stated intentions to file a complaint with FIFA and Concacaf. Those organizations have not provided immediate responses to inquiries.
In a statement, Haiti’s embassy in Santo Domingo stressed that Isidor’s comments came “in the heat of competition” and do not represent the Haitian government’s view. They also expressed gratitude toward Dominican authorities for the event, highlighting that sports rivalries should not undermine the good neighborly relations necessary between the two nations.
Historically, relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic have been strained. Abinader’s government has notably intensified deportations of undocumented Haitians since 2024, with plans to expel up to 10,000 individuals weekly. Sporting events have often become a focal point for diplomatic tensions, with previous incidents including a ban by Haiti’s sports ministry on hosting national team matches in the Dominican Republic after Abinader closed the border in 2023 over a canal dispute on the shared Massacre River.
Looking ahead, Haiti is scheduled to face Costa Rica in San Jose on Sunday.
