PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Tues. Mar. 23, 2021, Reuters: Belize’s soccer federation (FFB) has expressed “disappointment and disgust” after the bus ferrying the squad to their hotel in Haiti was stopped by an armed gang on bikes.
The incident transpired shortly right after the squad had arrived in the Caribbean country to play a Environment Cup qualifier.
“Despite the four-gentleman law enforcement escort, the crew bus was stopped by an uproar of insurgents with assault rifles on bikes and law enforcement escorts have been compelled to negotiate with them for the group bus to proceed its journey to the lodge,” the FFB stated in a assertion.
“We are happy to report that our ‘Jaguars’, while shaken by the terrible expertise, are safely and securely at their hotel.”
The federation posted a photograph on its Fb web page of the incident, demonstrating the gang sporting masks and carrying weapons.
Staff captain Deon McCauley described the incident as “a instant of intense fear” and other associates of the squad explained to Belize Information 5 Tv station they hoped to get out of Haiti as quickly as doable.
The FFB mentioned it had contacted football’s governing human body FIFA and the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Soccer (CONCACAF) about getting the gamers to a safer surroundings.
CONCACAF did not instantly respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
The qualifier, slated for Thursday, is portion of the initially round of CONCACAF game titles for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Belize have never skilled for the Globe Cup finals whilst Haiti qualified only at the time, in 1974.
(Reporting by Andrew Downie in London Modifying by Peter Rutherford )
About the Author
