Belize Football team stopped in Haiti by armed gang

Port-Au-Prince, Haiti: The Belize Football Federation has shown its "distress and disgust" after a bus was stopped by the national team to their hotel in Haiti by an armed gang.

The incident took place on Monday, shortly after the group arrived in the country in 2022 for a qualifying World Cup tournament. Criminals gangs are very active in Haiti, where incidents like abduction, kidnapping, murders have become so common.

It is astonishing, as the team was being escorted by four police officials. The police accompanying the team were forced to negotiate with the gang to allow the bus to the hotel.

Read More: Masked policemen storms police stations in Haiti to release fellow officers

Captain Deon McCauley characterised the incident as "a moment of intense fear".

"I am glad that everyone is safe, and I commend you for being brave," he added.

"Let's keep sticking together and please make the best decisions for the team."

A picture posted on the Federation's (FFB) Facebook page showed the gang wearing motorcycles, masks and carrying weapons.

In a statement, the FFB said: 'The Belize Football Federation is taking this time to express its disappointment and disgust at an unfortunate incident facing the Jaguars as the team travels from the airport to the hotel in Haiti. pad was.

Read More: US accepts Haitian President Moises for another year in power

"Despite the four-person police escort, the team bus was stopped by a riot of insurgents with assault rifles on motorcycles and police escorts were forced to negotiate with them for the team bus to continue its journey to the hotel.

"We are delighted to report that our Jaguars, although shaken by the horrific experience, are safe at their hotel."

The FFB added that the safety of the team was the highest priority and contacted Fifa and the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football Association (Concacaf) to move them to a safer environment.

The team is expected to play in the opening match for the World Cup in Port-au-Prince on Thursday in Haiti.