Haitian women rose from the brink of disaster to the World Cup – soccer boss harassed girl players for years

The Haitian women’s national football team pulled off a trick that many did not believe. The country defeated Chile, known from the last World Cup, in the final of the World Cup qualifiers played in Auckland, New Zealand, and secured its place in the World Cup tournament to be played next summer.

The value of the performance is further enhanced by the conditions that led the country to the competition venue.

Haiti has been in deep chaos for years. The huge earthquake of 2010 left a deep mark on the country, and corruption has eaten up a large part of the billions intended for aid operations.

The chaos and instability worsened after the country’s president Jovenel Moise was assassinated in his home on July 7, 2021 under dark circumstances.

The UN has described the situation in Haiti as catastrophic: the country is on the brink of a health disaster, and there is also a constant threat of violence in the streets. People are afraid of armed gangs that commit robbery and rape, and not everyone dares to go to work.

It has been said that the gangs also rob schools, where everything from desktops to computers has been suitable for them. Many schools have had to close.

The country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, was described in October as resembling a war tent. The food shortage is really bad in some places and diseases like cholera spread in unhygienic conditions.

Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres proposed in October to send international troops to Haiti to solve the humanitarian crisis.

The Haitian women’s national football team believed that its first place in the World Cup in history would bring joy to the country.

– The possibility of making it to the World Cup is important to us. We want to go to the Games for our country, we want to do something new and in a way step away from all this for a while, myself born on the side of the United States Danielle Etienne comment Under the World Cup qualifiers for ESPN. (you switch to another service)

The country succeeded in the trick, when one of the world’s most promising female players moved to the French giant Lyon in the summer Melchie Dumornay managed to pass the Chilean national team keeper, who was also blocking balls in Lyon by Christiane Endler twice. Haiti won 2–1.

Girl and female players were sexually harassed

The humanitarian crisis is not the only thing Haiti’s women’s national soccer team has suffered from. The Guardian reported in April 2020 that the president of the country’s football association By Yves Jean-Bart sexually abused young female soccer players for years.

The acts took place between 2014 and 2020 at a training center in the town of Croix-des-Bouquets, funded by the international football association Fifa. Some of the victims were minors.

One of the victims interviewed by the Guardian said that Jean-Bart’s friend tried to rape her, and one of the center’s players told of forcing another victim to have an abortion.

– He was pressured to keep quiet. One of our best players lost her virginity to Jean-Bart when she was 17 years old. She also had to have an abortion. It’s really terrible that they want to play for their country, but get fired if they tell about the situation. They are like hostages.

Many of the Haitian Football Association’s Academy players were lured in from the streets. According to The Guardian, the center was in terrible condition, even though Fifa had paid Haiti six million dollars for its maintenance.

Young people were also kept in harsh conditions: ten children could be crammed into one room to sleep without sheets.

– I’m so scared. Jean-Bart is a really dangerous person. Many people want to talk about it, but are too scared, especially for their parents who still live in Haiti, one of the victims told the Guardian.

Fifa fell Jean-Bart is banned for life and fined one million euros (you will switch to another service)which sports international court of appeal However, CAS recently overruled. (you switch to another service) According to CAS, the accusations were inconsistent and contradictory.

Human Rights Watch strongly criticized the decision (you go to another service)I said and reminded that many of the victims refused to testify because they feared for their safety. According to the human rights organization, some of the victims had also been threatened.

– Fifa and CAS have not created conditions in which it is safe for witnesses and victims to come forward and testify to these terrible acts, HWR’s Minky Worden commented to the Guardian.

Portugal and Panama also included

In addition to Haiti, the World Cup tickets from the World Cup play-offs were claimed by Portugal and Panama.

Portugal’s place in the competition was lost after quite dramatic stages, as the 2-1 winning goal in Cameroon’s net came in the 94th minute. The experienced became the hero Carole Costa.

Kind of the same way Linda Sällström hit the Portugal net with a goal in extra time, as Finland secured its place in the European Championships in Helsinki in February 2021.

Captain of the helmsmen Tinja-Riikka Korpela admitted that Finland is still saddened by the loss of the World Cup place. Sweden and Ireland, who won the group, competed in the Helmaret group.

– Good for Portugal, all credit to them and cheers for the World Cup. But once again there was such an irritation that we didn’t get there.. But that’s how it goes, you have to win the right games. We know that the competition venue was not far away, there are many routes to get there.. Nothing else but towards the next competitions, commented Korpela.

It is also the first World Cup appearance for Portugal and Panama.

The Women’s World Cup will be played from July 20 to August 20, 2023 in New Zealand and Australia. shows the races on its channels.