Wednesday March 24th 2021
Before the first game in the World Cup qualification
Belize’s team bus attacked by gunmen
They just want to play football – and suddenly look at gun barrels: The national team of Belize is stopped by insurgents after their arrival for the World Cup qualifier in Haiti. “It was a moment of intense fear,” said Deon McCauley, the Jaguars’ co-captain.
Before their first qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Belize national team was attacked in Haiti. The team bus of the players was stopped on the way from the airport to the hotel by many men with assault rifles on motorcycles, said the association of the Central American country. The police officers accompanying the team would have had to negotiate with the attackers to enable them to continue their journey.
“This is a situation the team should never have gotten into. Fortunately, the players are now safe in the hotel,” said a statement from the Belize Football Association. Deputy team captain Deon McCaulay said: “It was a moment of great fear. Let’s stick together and make the best decision for the team.” The association is in contact with FIFA to explore the possibility of moving the team to a safer location. The qualifying start in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince is planned for this Thursday.
Haiti is repeatedly shaken by violence. Parts of the desperately poor Caribbean state are controlled by armed gangs. Kidnappings are just as common as violent clashes or protests involving the use of firearms. In addition, Haiti is in a serious economic and political crisis. On March 16, a state of emergency was declared in some areas. Recently there have also been violent protests against President Jovenel Moïse, who is accused of corruption and links to violent gangs.
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