MILAN (AP) — Haiti has been forced to change the design of its World Cup jersey after it was deemed too political by FIFA just months after the Caribbean nation had to amend its Winter Olympic uniforms.
The jersey, by Colombian sportswear manufacturer Saeta, originally included a depiction of the final battle of the Haitian War of Independence in 1803 on its front. The image was rejected during FIFA's approval process.
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Saeta said in a statement Wednesday that it would comply with the ban even though the design "was not intended as a political statement," but rather as a "tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti's future."
The jersey featured blue to mirror the sea and red for the nation's "strength and passion," the sportswear maker said. Players wore the now-banned jersey in a warmup match against Peru last week. The original design was currently marked as sold out on the SaetaUSA online shop.
