Portmore-Violette clash reset for October 28 amid Dom Rep standoff
Key Points(5)
- Portmore United’s bid to reach the Concacaf Caribbean Cup final has been disrupted by a dispute over the use of Dominican Republic stadiums by Haitian teams, forcing a change to the second leg of their semifinal against Violette AC.
- Concacaf has rescheduled the match for October 28, after the original fixture was postponed because of a Dominican government policy prohibiting Haitian national and club teams from playing in stadiums across the country.
- The return leg had been scheduled for Tuesday at Estadio Cibao in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
- The revised date gives the Jamaican club a new target, although the postponement has also raised questions about the scheduling of its domestic commitments.
- Portmore enter the tie with a substantial advantage, having defeated Violette 3-1 in the first leg at Sabina Park last Tuesday.
Portmore United’s bid to reach the Concacaf Caribbean Cup final has been disrupted by a dispute over the use of Dominican Republic stadiums by Haitian teams, forcing a change to the second leg of their semifinal against Violette AC.
Concacaf has rescheduled the match for October 28, after the original fixture was postponed because of a Dominican government policy prohibiting Haitian national and club teams from playing in stadiums across the country.
The return leg had been scheduled for Tuesday at Estadio Cibao in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The revised date gives the Jamaican club a new target, although the postponement has also raised questions about the scheduling of its domestic commitments.
Portmore enter the tie with a substantial advantage, having defeated Violette 3-1 in the first leg at Sabina Park last Tuesday. They will carry that two-goal aggregate lead into the rearranged encounter as they pursue a place in the final.
Jamaica to host return leg after Concacaf confirms new arrangements
The second leg will now be played at Sabina Park in Kingston on Wednesday, October 28, with kickoff at 6:00 p.m. Jamaica time, Concacaf confirmed on October 20. The move brings the fixture back to Jamaica after the original venue in the Dominican Republic became unavailable.
Government policy forces change of venue
The postponement followed the Dominican Republic government's decision to prohibit Haiti's national team and club sides from using sporting facilities in the country.
Sports and Recreation Minister Kelvin Cruz reiterated the policy on Sunday, October 18. It was first announced after incidents at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium on October 1, when supporters reportedly forced entry points and damaged a gate ahead of a match between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Dominican President Luis Abinader subsequently endorsed the measure, while José Francisco Deschamps, president of the Dominican Football Federation, confirmed that the federation would comply with the government's position.
The decision left Concacaf with the task of rearranging the semifinal, which is part of the qualifying competition for the region's leading club tournament.
Portmore carry two-goal cushion
Portmore United recovered from an early setback to win the first encounter at Sabina Park.
Haitian club Violette took the lead through Jean-Fabrice Védrine in the 39th minute, but Javier Brown scored twice, in the 63rd and 74th minutes, to turn the match around. Tedj Bryan added a third goal in stoppage time to give the Jamaican side a valuable cushion.
The revised schedule could also affect Portmore's Jamaica Premier League assignment against Chapelton Maroons, which was listed for October 25, three days before the continental semifinal.
Mount Pleasant face Club Sando in other semifinal
The other semifinal remains on schedule, with defending champions Mount Pleasant FA set to host Trinidad and Tobago's Club Sando FC at Sabina Park on Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
That contest is evenly poised at 1-1 following the first-leg draw at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago last Wednesday.
The two clubs that advance from the semifinals will contest the Caribbean Cup final over two legs on December 1 and 5, with a regional title and progression to the next stage of Concacaf competition at stake.
