A touching tribute has turned into a logistical nightmare for Haiti just days before their FIFA World Cup dream kicks off.
The team from the small, embattled Caribbean nation must redesign their uniform before Sunday’s match against Scotland.
FIFA has asked Saeta, the clothing manufacturer responsible for the uniform’s design, to alter the team’s jersey due to potential political messages.
Haiti’s jersey features an image based on the 1803 Battle of Vertieres, which is considered a decisive moment in the country’s fight for independence from France.
Haiti’s white jersey features a troop hoisting its own national flag, while the blue shirt has the soldiers lifting a Polish flag.
Why does Haiti have a Polish flag on its jersey?
The design is a tribute to the Polish Legion soldiers who aided Haiti in fighting for their freedom during colonialism.
While the Polish troops originally had been sent to Haiti – then known as Saint-Domingue – to fight alongside the French, many instead sided with the local rebels and slaves.
After the Caribbean nation earned its independence, leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines granted the Poles full citizenship and honoured them.
The ties between the two countries remain tight, with many descendants of the Polish troops remaining on the island.
Poland itself failed to qualify for this summer’s tournament, having lost out in the UEFA playoffs.
What did the clothing company say?
The team had worn the kits during pre-tournament friendlies against Peru and New Zealand this month before FIFA made its ruling, but now Saeta, which is based in Colombia, issued a statement on Instagram about FIFA’s ruling on Wednesday.
“The final design presented by Saeta was intended as a tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti’s future and was not intended as a political statement,” Saeta wrote.
“During the review process, FIFA determined that certain visual elements could be interpreted differently under its equipment regulations and ultimately requested modifications to the design.
“While this interpretation differed from our intention, Saeta respected the process and implemented the final requirements communicated by FIFA.”
What is Haiti’s World Cup history?
This will be the small island nation’s first World Cup in 52 years, being aided in qualifying by the addition of 16 teams to the tournament and the fact that co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the U.S. all received automatic entries.
Haiti, which is ranked No. 83 in the world by FIFA, will be in tough to secure points during the group stages.