By: Jillian Wu
A gloomy cloud hangs over Haitian soccer and FIFA amid the jubilation of Haiti’s historic qualification for its first women’s World Cup. Former federation president Yves Jean-Bart, the man behind Haiti’s women’s soccer program, was involved in a horrifying abuse scandal. He was charged with supervising a national training facility that turned into a haven for systemic abuse and of sexually assaulting young athletes. FIFA permanently banned him in 2020 after determining that he had engaged in sexual harassment and abuse. Just days before Haiti won the World Cup, a team of arbitrators overturned the verdict, potentially allowing Jean-Bart to retake the presidency.
FIFA has been working to develop women’s soccer internationally, and the 2023 World Cup will feature a 32-team field with more prize money. However, the organization has struggled to protect female players from exploitation and abuse. The Washington Post’s investigation found that FIFA mishandled abuse cases and its handling of such allegations has further prevented the victims from speaking up.
In the instance of Haiti, the pandemic and known threats against whistleblowers hampered FIFA’s inquiry. Players found it challenging to escape the abuse once Jean-Bart seized their passports, giving him complete control over their careers and possibilities.
In a similar vein, Diego Guacci, a coach in Argentina, was charged with player abuse and sexual harassment. FIFA’s Adjudicatory Chamber decided in favor of Guacci despite other players coming forward with their testimonies, invalidating the victims’ claims for a lack of tangible proof.
FIFA announced a commitment to establish a separate entity to handle accusations of sexual assault and harassment, but little has been accomplished in that regard. The organization’s reputation has suffered because of the lack of transparency and inconsistent handling of claims of abuse.
Experts highlight that international women’s soccer creates environments particularly ripe for abuse, given the power dynamics dominated by men and younger players, often teenagers. Similarly, other female sports like gymnastics have been a common environment for unwarranted abuse and misdemeanor.
FIFA has made investments in women’s soccer, but its efforts to safeguard players from mistreatment and exploitation have fallen short. A thorough and trauma-informed strategy for handling abuse claims is required for the sport to advance properly. The priority should be on ensuring players’ safety, fostering trust, and creating a secure environment for women and girls to play soccer globally. The failure to safeguard those who contribute to the sport’s greatness would otherwise risk overshadowing the advancements made in promoting women’s soccer.
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