The Dominican Republic has narrowed the ban it imposed on Haiti's national football team. Haiti may still play in the country as a visiting team, but it may not use Dominican stadiums for its own home matches, Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz said on Saturday, October 3.

The clarification came a day after Cruz announced a broader ban, following Haiti's 4-1 win in Santo Domingo on October 1. He cited damage to a stadium gate when crowds of fans forced their way in. President Luis Abinader had backed the original announcement.

The dispute has moved well beyond football. After scoring twice, striker Wilson Isidor was filmed shouting “Hispaniola, c'est Haïti! Ici, c'est Haïti!” while pointing to the ground and to his jersey. José Deschamps, president of the Dominican Football Federation, called the words disrespectful to Dominican sovereignty, and the federation filed a complaint with FIFA and Concacaf. Neither body has ruled that Isidor broke any rule.

The Haitian Football Federation defended its player and said his words expressed attachment to his roots, not hostility. Haiti's embassy in Santo Domingo distanced the government from the remark and reaffirmed Haiti's respect for Dominican sovereignty.

Veteran sports analyst and former senator Patrice Dumont said Dominican authorities misread a celebration of pride. He noted that FIFA rules make the host country responsible for order and security before, during and after a match. Former consul general Judith Exavier, by contrast, asked the federation to suspend Isidor temporarily, pointing to the tensions facing Haitians who live in the Dominican Republic.

The match was played one day before the 89th anniversary of the 1937 massacre of Haitians along the border. In the Dominican Republic, some hopefuls for the 2028 presidential election have used the incident to call for tougher measures against Haitian migrants.

“For 90 minutes, there are colors, rivalries, emotions and an absolute desire to win,” Isidor said afterward. “Afterward, what remains is what truly matters: the respect we have for one another.”