Wilson Isidor’s remarks spark friction between Haiti and Dominican Republic
“L’Hispaniola c’est Haiti! ¡Esto es Haití!”, shouted Wilson Isidor after a 4-1 victory over the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo, according to reporting by Associated Press. That celebratory remark sparked immediate political, economic, and racial friction across the shared Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
Dominican Football Federation Files Complaint over Stadium Damage
Contacted on a Monday, Cruz confirmed he was maintaining his public announcement. While Cruz did not directly cite Isidor by name during his statement, he formally accused visiting Haitian fans of damaging the stadium’s physical infrastructure.
Some local spectators criticized their own government for failing to properly manage the incoming crowds. By Saturday, the Dominican Football Federation filed a formal complaint with CONCACAF regarding the incidents, while a CONCACAF spokesperson did not immediately respond to a message requesting comment.
Historical Echoes of the Parsley Massacre
The timing of the fixture amplified long-standing historical grievances, as the match occurred just one day prior to the 89th anniversary of the Parsley Massacre ordered by dictator Rafael Trujillo. During that historical atrocity, thousands of Haitians were systematically killed along the shared border. Spectators inside the stadium on Thursday held up signs in Haitian Creole commemorating the victims of the October 2 massacre, with one sign reading: Un gran homenaje a los que cayeron el 2 de octubre de 1937. Hoy este partido se juega en su memoria
.
Online reactions divided sharply along national lines as Isidor’s remarks went viral. Users debated historical facts and wished a good day to everyone excepto a los haitianos
, while one person even compared Isidor’s comments to a German player making a Nazi salute. Videos circulated comparing economic disparities across the border, including an online video titled 4-1
showing well-to-do areas of the Dominican Republic above impoverished areas in Haiti, alongside social media posts featuring hostile commentary directed at Haitian nationals. One person on X observed that the comments of Isidor, who was born in France, are similar to the Ici c’est Paris
chant of Paris Saint-Germain fans, even during away games, noting: Nadie piensa que estén reclamando territorio
.
The Haitian Football Federation stated that Isidor’s comments were merely an expression of deep attachment to his roots and should not be interpreted as territorial hostility or disrespect toward another nation, stating: Este apego a Haití no puede… interpretarse como una señal de hostilidad o falta de respeto hacia otro pueblo o nación
and adding that La rivalidad deportiva, por intensa que sea, nunca debe hacernos perder de vista el respeto mutuo que debe unir a jugadores, aficionados y naciones
.
Haiti Advances to Quarterfinals Despite Infrastructure Challenges
Garry Jean-Pierre, watching from the Haitian capital, noted that while the comments were likely non-political, the Dominican government’s harsh reaction was predictable following a heavy defeat on home soil, expressing: Entendemos por qué lo hicieron.
Fueron humillados en casa frente a sus seguidores
. Both Haiti and the Dominican Republic finished group play with nine points in League A, but Haiti advanced to the quarterfinals on goal difference.
Infrastructure challenges inside Haiti remain a central obstacle for the national team. With the primary stadium in Port-au-Prince and local training facilities currently controlled by armed gangs occupying roughly 70 percent of the capital, the team has been forced to play home matches abroad.
Bertin publicly urged Isidor to retract his statements. Bertin warned that ordinary Haitian migrants living inside the Dominican Republic ultimately bear the heaviest burden when diplomatic tensions flare.
“At the end, those who are going to suffer are the Haitians who live in the Dominican Republic,” Bertin stated.