Soccer

Yves Jean-Bart Reelected to 4th Term as President of Haitian Soccer

CROIX-DES-BOUQUETS, Haiti (defend.ht) – After a controversial election process, Sunday, Dr. Yves Jean-Bart was elected to a fourth four-year term as President of the Federation of Haitian Football.

Despite a noticeable improvement in Haitian soccer, with both mens and women’s teams being more competitive and having sold television rights to an American television company, the reelection of FHF President Jean-Bart was overshadowed by suspicions that the process was not up to standard.

The results came as no surprise.

A newly instated Secretary-General, Carlo Madsen, conducted the elections that began at 10:15AM. Oddly, the incumbent president of the federation, Dr. Yves Jean-Bart of the Heritage Cartel also participated in the actual conducting of the elections.

For the opposition, only the candidates of the Change Cartel were present, headed by Dr. Gerard Janvier.

At about 10:50AM, Dr. Janvier stepped to the podium, grabbing the microphone from Secretary-General Madsen to denounced what he saw has "magouy", or "fraud" in the election process.

Dr. Janvier said it was not normal that at the same time that an election is taking place that they are setting a new commission for the federation - something that should have taken place six (6) months prior.

After the declarations, Janvier and the Change Cartel debarked the proceedings at the Ranch Sportif de la Croix des Bouquetsen and the elections continued as if nothing had happened.

Since last week, many Haitians were expecting a change at the head of the federation. A caller to Radio Kiskeya even asked journalists to investigate to ensure that Gaillot Dorsinvil was not managing the election. Gaillot Dorsinvil, the former President of the Provisional Electoral Council who is currently under investigation for accepting bribes in the presidential and legislative elections of 2010.

16 Years of Jean-Bart

After a 12-year tenure that did not see a Haitian team advance to World Cup play or finals play in the CONCACAF regional tournaments.

In 2011, Jean-Bart, although exonerated from any guilt, received a warning for being named in a FIFA ethics investigation, where pay-for-votes took place between many heads of national football clubs and a candidate that sought to unseat FIFA President, Sepp Blatter.

Jean Bart and his banner “Heritage Cartel” received a unanimous vote.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Yves Jean-Bart appealed for unity, telling the football community that “there are many challenges ahead, we will have to put our heads together to make [Haitian] soccer advance...”