Haiti have been ordered by FIFA to alter their home kit just days before their historic first-ever World Cup campaign gets underway.
The Caribbean nation are making their debut at the tournament after coming through Concacaf qualifying, topping their group ahead of Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Haiti won three of their six qualifying ties against that Central American trio, earning their place on the grandest stage in international football.
They will open their campaign against Scotland in what is one of the most highly anticipated fixtures of the early tournament schedule.
FIFA informed the Haitian Football Federation that their home kit contained imagery that could be considered a political statement, which is prohibited under official tournament regulations.
The image in question depicted revolutionary fighters hoisting the Haitian flag at the Battle of Vertières, a pivotal moment in the country’s history dating back to 1803.
That battle, led by Toussaint Louverture, was central to the slave revolution that overthrew French rule and remains the only such revolution to result in government by those who were previously oppressed.
FIFA explained that the image of revolutionary fighters hoisting the country’s flag could be “interpreted differently”, and formally requested that the federation make the change.
The Haitian Football Federation pushed back on FIFA’s reasoning, describing the situation as a misunderstanding rather than a genuine breach of the rules.
The federation released the following statement on the matter: “Following a misinterpretation, FIFA officials asked the federation to remove an image depicting Vertières and some independence heroes raising the Haitian flag.”
Despite their objections, Haiti ultimately complied with the request and asked kit manufacturer Saeta to produce an altered version of the shirt.
The decision adds to a broader wave of criticism directed at FIFA over their handling of the tournament on United States soil.
FIFA have already faced significant backlash after travel permission and visas were denied to numerous fans, a referee, and the Iranian team ahead of the competition.
Haiti will be hoping the off-field controversy does not distract from what could be a memorable run, with Premier League duo Jean-Ricner Bellegarde of Wolves and Wilson Isidor of Sunderland among their key players.
Both men will be eager to make their mark on the tournament as Haiti look to prove they belong at this level for the first time in the nation’s footballing history.
The post FIFA Force Haiti To Change World Cup Kit Featuring Jean-Ricner Bellegarde And Wilson Isidor’s Nation Over Political Concerns appeared first on Gooner Daily.
