Huge World Cup crew advised to alter equipment by FIFA hours earlier than kick-off after rule break
Haiti were forced to make a last-minute change to their World Cup kit just days before their opening game against Scotland after their original design fell foul of FIFA’s equipment regulations
FIFA has banned it(Image: ALFREDO ESTRELLA, AFP via Getty Images)
Scotland’s World Cup group stage rivals Haiti have been compelled to make an eleventh-hour kit alteration just days ahead of their tournament opener. The Caribbean nation, who will also meet Brazil and Morocco in the group stages, were discovered to have breached FIFA’s regulations with their initial design.
The original strip, produced by manufacturer Saeta, featured the Battle of Vertieres – a conflict that contributed to the nation’s ultimate independence from France in the early 19th century. Nevertheless, FIFA forbids political messaging of any nature and this is believed to be the regulation behind the required modification.
“Working in close collaboration with the Haitian Football Federation, our objective throughout the process was to create a jersey that celebrated the pride, resilience and spirit of the Haitian people,” a statement from Saeta read.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
“Several concepts were developed and refined over a number of months and submitted through FIFA’s standard approval process.
“The final design presented by Saeta was intended as a tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti’s future and was not intended as a political statement. During the review process, FIFA determined that certain visual elements could be interpreted differently under its equipment regulations and ultimately requested modifications to the design.
“While this interpretation differed from our intention, Saeta respected the process and implemented the final requirements communicated by FIFA. We remain proud to have contributed, alongside the Haitian Football Federation, to this historic moment for Haitian football and wish the team every success at the FIFA World Cup.”, reports the Mirror.
With the United States, Canada and Mexico securing automatic qualification as co-hosts, only three other teams from the CONCACAF confederation managed to clinch a place at the tournament. Haiti hadn’t made it to the World Cup finals since 1974, when they were knocked out in the first round.
They ended a 52-year drought after topping a group that included Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, with fellow CONCACAF group winners Curacao and Panama joining them in the group stage. Two more reached the intercontinental play-offs, though neither Jamaica nor Suriname succeeded in making it to the finals.
Haiti, under the guidance of French coach Sebastien Migne, played two pre-tournament friendlies in Miami. They triumphed over New Zealand 4-0 but suffered a 2-1 defeat to Peru.
Following their match against Scotland in Foxborough, Migne’s squad will head to Philadelphia to face Brazil, before concluding their group stage journey against Morocco in Atlanta. They boast two players who featured in Premier League football last season – Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Sunderland forward Wilson Isidor, both of whom played for France at youth level before opting to represent their senior international allegiances elsewhere.
