Overview
- Saeta, Haiti’s kit manufacturer, said Wednesday it had implemented FIFA’s requested changes after a review found certain visual elements could be read as political.
- FIFA and the International Football Association Board’s Law 4 bar political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images on match-day kit and formed the basis for the objection.
- The original design included an illustration of the 1803 Battle of Vertières and an embedded Haitian flag that players wore in two warm-up friendlies in Florida.
- The redesigned, FIFA-approved shirts were confirmed in time for Haiti to wear them for their World Cup opener against Scotland a few days later.
- The episode highlights a recurring clash between national historical symbolism and FIFA’s kit rules and could create short-term logistics and merchandise challenges for Haiti and Saeta.