Fate of World Cup Qualifier to be Decided by Match Commissioner
The first round of World Cup Qualifiers between Belize and Haiti is scheduled for Thursday afternoon at the Sylvio Cator Stadium in Port-au-Prince. At news time this evening, an investigation is being conducted by a senior FIFA match commissioner to determine whether the game between the Belize Jaguars and Haiti’s national football team can proceed as planned. As we reported, the delegation of Belizean athletes and coaching staff that arrived in the capital city on Monday was met by a swarm of heavily armed bikers who intercepted a charter bus that was transporting the team to its hotel. There was a standoff with the police officers escorting the team and guns were drawn. The frightening ordeal threatens the match because of safety concerns that have arisen in the wake of the holdup. Late this evening, News Five spoke with F.F.B. executive Marlon Kuylen who confirmed that the match commissioner had arrived in Haiti and that a probe is underway. Until a decision is made the Belize Jaguars have to stay put or face sanctions should the team leave the country prematurely.
Marlon Kuylen
Marlon Kuylen, Executive, F.F.B.
“FIFA sent one of their most experienced and professional match commissioner to Haiti today and he is currently conducting his investigations. He’s doing his interviews with all the relevant parties and based on his findings, his assessment, he will then forward his report and recommendation to CONCACAF and FIFA who will ultimately make the final decision.”
Isani Cayetano
“In a situation like this, is there any sanction that can be brought against the host country considering the fact that this incident was not of the doing of the visiting team?”
Marlon Kuylen
“I would have to visit the regulations to see what it says in there, however, I can tell you that should we leave without giving or having FIFA doing their due diligence and after they make the report and say it‘s safe and we had left, we could have been fined.”
Isani Cayetano
“So it‘s a matter of team Belize, the Jaguars, waiting it out to see what the final decision will be from the match commissioner before they even decide to board a flight to return or to head to the stadium on Thursday to play the match?”
Marlon Kuylen
“Exactly.”
Isani Cayetano
“Now have you had an opportunity to speak with any of the guys or the coaching staff today to see what the tempo has been like for them? It‘s a new day, they’re still facing the same situation, what the changes are and how they feel?”
Marlon Kuylen
“Well the change, there was a change in attitude and mentality today in the sense that since we‘re there and we‘ve prepared for so long that we continue with the preparations as if though the match will play. In other words, yesterday we were like, we wanted to leave now and this is not safe but the attitude changed today.”
