HAVANA, March 22 (Xinhua) — Cuba’s authorities on Wednesday denounced assaults towards its nationwide baseball staff whereas competing at a world championship within the U.S. metropolis of Miami, Florida.
“During the semifinal game of the 5th World Baseball Classic between the Cuban and United States teams … unfortunate and dangerous incidents occurred against the Cuban team that participated in the competition, which Cuba emphatically denounces,” Cuba’s Foreign Affairs Ministry mentioned in a press release.
The staff suffered “direct attacks, threats, the use of offensive and vulgar language, harmful attacks on the morale of the Cuban team and other incidents aimed at undermining the spirit of the athletes and damaging the event,” in accordance with the ministry.
“The rules of order and conduct established by the (LoanDepot Park) stadium were not enforced,” the ministry mentioned, noting “there was apparent complicity between certain representatives and personnel of the sports facility and local authorities, in particular those in charge of order and security.”
Objects had been thrown on the baseball gamers and their households, together with ladies, youngsters and the aged, and at members of the delegation and representatives of the Cuban press, in addition to at spectators cheering on the Cuban staff, mentioned the ministry.
In basic, when “representatives of the Cuban delegation or of Major League Baseball approached police officers to denounce the attacks described above, they took no action,” officers added.
“Incitement by local politicians and figures who hold public office” had been not less than partly in charge for fomenting hatred towards its athletes, mentioned Cuba.
The occasions “confirm, once again, that the city of Miami does not meet the minimum conditions to host an international event,” it concluded.
Cuba’s staff misplaced to the United States within the semifinal recreation final Sunday.
The staff acquired a heat welcome in Havana, the place gamers had been celebrated for reaching the fourth place, the Cuban squad’s greatest efficiency since 2006, when it misplaced to Japan within the remaining of the first World Baseball Classic.