Kelvin Cruz bans Haiti from using sports facilities following incidents at the Olympic Stadium
Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz has issued a forceful response following the serious incidents that occurred during the Concacaf Nations League match between the national teams of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The disturbances recorded at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium have led authorities to tighten policies regarding the use of state sports facilities.
During last Thursday, the country’s main sports venue was the scene of moments of tension, overcrowding, and material damage. Although tickets were sold out, the pressure from fans at access points led to pushing, stampedes, and the knocking down of one of the main gates, which forced authorities to take drastic measures to ensure safety and the integrity of the facilities.
A firm stance against disorder
Faced with the request from the Haitian national team’s leader, who raised the possibility of using Dominican soil as a venue for their home matches in future engagements, Minister Kelvin Cruz was categorical. The official’s response closed any door to this possibility due to the lack of control observed during the event.
I have bad news for the manager of the Haitian national team: we do not tolerate disorder, so we are denying the Haiti national team any use of our facilities.
Kelvin Cruz, Minister of Sports
This decision underscores the Ministry of Sports’ stance: the use of public assets is strictly conditioned on compliance with regulations, the safety of attendees, and the preservation of national infrastructure.
Meeting context and consequences
The match, which ended in a 4-1 victory for Haiti, was marred by poor logistics and the behavior of some groups at the entrances. Although a special security arrangement and restricted pedestrian access had been implemented at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, the scale of the attendance overwhelmed the controls, resulting in damages that have been documented by the authorities.
For Alofoke Deportes, this episode sets an important precedent in the management of international events. The current administration has made it clear that discipline and order are non-negotiable conditions for any foreign delegation wishing to use Dominican sports venues, always prioritizing the protection of public assets over any sporting interest.
