Haiti’s Former Soccer Federation President Announces Reclaiming Position
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president, Yves Jean-Bart, announced on Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position, despite a lifetime ban from the sport over sexual abuse allegations being overturned last month.
Background
Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association through November. The committee is led by a veteran soccer official from Cuba and is set to represent Haiti on March 16 in Rwanda when FIFA’s 211 member federations have their annual meeting.
New Developments
Jean-Bart has denied allegations by the FIFA ethics committee, which issued a lifetime ban after finding him guilty in 2020 of sexually abusing female players as young as 14, keeping mistresses and preying upon girls from impoverished neighborhoods. The Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the ban two weeks ago, ruling there were inconsistencies and inaccuracies in statements of alleged victims. The court also said that information provided by groups such as Human Rights Watch and world players union FIFPRO were not "sufficiently evidentiary."
Legal Actions
Jean-Bart, who was joined by several attorneys during the videoconference, also said he would file a lawsuit over alleged defamation against a freelance journalist who first reported the accusations against him in the British newspaper The Guardian. His attorney, Stanley Gaston, said, "He is going on the offensive. Let it be known."
FIFA’s Response
FIFA officials did not immediately return a message for comment. It is unclear whether FIFA has to let Jean-Bart resume leading the Haitian federation. FIFA could deny Jean-Bart a credential to such events it organizes, including the Women’s World Cup that starts in July.
Human Rights Watch’s Response
Human Rights Watch said the Court of Arbitration for Sport "wrongly annulled" Jean-Bart’s lifetime ban and called on FIFA to appeal the ruling. Minky Worden, HRW global initiatives director, said, "In Haiti, FIFA and the sport of football gave Yves Jean-Bart enormous power, including to abuse child athletes, and cover up his abuses with threats to kill survivors and family members."
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Jean-Bart’s ban and subsequent overturning has sparked widespread debate and outrage. While Jean-Bart claims he is innocent and plans to continue serving as president of Haiti’s soccer federation, many have expressed concerns about his ability to lead the organization and protect the well-being of its players.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the status of Jean-Bart’s ban?
A: Jean-Bart’s lifetime ban from the sport was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport two weeks ago.
Q: What are the implications of the ban being overturned?
A: Jean-Bart is now free to resume leading the Haitian Football Association, but it is unclear whether FIFA will recognize him as president.
Q: What is the response from Human Rights Watch?
A: Human Rights Watch has called on FIFA to appeal the court’s decision and has expressed concerns about the safety and well-being of players under Jean-Bart’s leadership.
Q: What is the next step for Jean-Bart?
A: Jean-Bart has announced plans to create new protections to prevent sexual abuse, including establishing an ethics commission, but it is unclear whether FIFA will recognize these efforts.