Haiti soccer headquarters collapsed in quake, at least thirty killed

By Chris Hummer

Reports that at least 30 members of Haiti’s Football Federation were killed in last week’s devastating 7.0 earthquake has been confirmed after a first-hand visit by a Caribbean Football official. CFU vice-president Captain Horace Burrell reported that not only had 30 members died while attending a meeting, but at the time of his visit, at least 20 bodies still lay under what used to be a three-story building, but “all the remains is a concrete slab”. News of whether those 20 bodies are additional to the 30 was not clear from conflicting press reports out of the region.

Burrell raveled to Haiti to survey the damage and to meet with the only survivor of the meeting, Haitian Football Federation President Dr. Yves Jean Bart, who himself was badly injured. Jean Bart confirmed that 30 members of the federation are dead, with twenty bodies remaining mangled beneath the headquarters. Among the dead were administrators, referees, coaches—including the HFF’s most experienced coach who recently coached the Under-17 team in the World Cup Tournament in Korea— medical personnel, players and office staff. Other press reports said it did not appear any current national team players were among the dead.

In a report back to CFU headquarters, Burrell said: “I was met at the airport by an injured President Dr Yves Jean Bart. His injuries and bandages remain stark reminders of his narrow escape from the crumbling building following the earthquake.

“As we travelled down what now remains of the major highway, the buildings that line the roadways are but crumbled shells of their previous incarnations, not even a hint of their previous grandeur can be seen.

“None is a truer reflection of this statement than the federation’s headquarters. “Once a three story magnanimous structure, all that remains is a concrete slab. The stench of death is present everywhere on this island. As we looked at the ruins, I saw three decomposing bodies, visibly mangled in the rubble. “All that it would take is proper equipment to free the bodies, to allow their families the courtesy of a proper funeral. But many on this island have been robbed of that courtesy.”

“It is heartbreaking; there is emptiness in this land, which must be filled soon. The island has been engulfed by a sense of hopelessness and despair. We cannot ignore this problem. If my report can in any way shed some light into what is happening here, if it can encourage even one person to act then I would have succeeded in my mission.”

The outpouring of support from the Executive end of the soccer world has been encouraging, with CONCACAF President Jack Warner pledging $100,000 of his own funds almost immediately, and calling on FIFA to do even more. CONCACAF, which stands for Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, is the governing body within which Haitian soccer teams play, and is the same confederation of the United States.


FIFA, the world’s governing body for soccer, of which CONCACAF is a member, responded directly and indirectly this week, with the organization pledged $250,000, while its vice-president Chung Moon-June pledged $500,000 personally.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said in a letter of support,  “The football community stands in solidarity with Haiti. As our brothers and sisters face their darkest hour, we must let them know that they are not alone. As the world still comes to terms with the calamity that has befallen this Caribbean nation, we in football understand our role to the people of Haiti,”

Former Colorado Rapids head coach and US National team star Fernando Clavijo, coached the Haitian national team from 2003 to 2005, and told the Miami Herald, ``That building, which I was in many times, was a beautiful antique house, but it was unfinished and I can see how it would fall,\'\' said Clavijo, who coached the Haitian team to a 1-1 tie with the United States in 2004, and his now director of player development for Traffic Sports in Miami. ``It rips my heart out because the Haitian people were always happy, even though they had nothing. They celebrated that 1-1 tie for two days over there. Soccer brought them joy, and now, they truly have nothing.\'\'

[Editor’s Note: Want a quick and easy way to donate to the American Red Cross’ Haiti Relief Fund? Text “HAITI” to 90999. Get more info on the Red Cross website here: http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_nolnav_text2help]