On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, with the aim of creating a national amputee football team, Gérard Joseph, the Secretary of State for the Integration of People with Disabilities, had an important meeting with several stakeholders in sports for people with disabilities in Haiti. Among them were the Haitian Amputee Football Association APHA, the Association of People with Disabilities for the Promotion of Sport (APHAPS) and the Zareyen club.

During this meeting, Genard Joseph congratulated the leaders of these associations and clubs for their efforts to advance Handisport in Haiti. "It is a national pride to defend the two-color of our country with your disability through the various sports competitions around the world," he said, addressing the players present.

For the Secretary of State, "without synergy between the different stakeholders in this sector, no results will be possible." He therefore invited the various associations and clubs to unite for the good of all.

At the end of the meeting, a committee was formed to follow up on this meeting, which was fruitful and beneficial, according to the testimonies of sports officials for people with disabilities.

Learn more about amputee football :

Football for amputee players follows specific rules, like any discipline adapted to a disability. The game takes place on a field measuring 60 meters by 40 (maximum 70 m X 60), or half a classic football field. It has two goal cages with a maximum height of 2.2 m, a width of 5 m x 1 m (depth) and a standard FIFA ball

The match is played in 2 periods of 25 minutes with a half-time of about ten minutes. A two-minute time-out is allowed per team and per match. The team is composed of 7 players (6 field players, one goalkeeper) and substitutes.

Field players (except goalkeeper) must have a lower limb amputated. The goalkeeper must have an upper limb amputated, therefore a hand.

Players cannot use their crutches and stump to handle the ball. If this happens, it is considered “a hand” unless it is unintentional.

In addition, using a crutch against a player results in exclusion and a penalty.

Finally, offside does not exist in disabled football.

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-37908-icihaiti-football-our-amputated-grenadiers-back-home.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37849-haiti-2022-world-cup-haiti-loses-[2-4]-to-uzbekistan-and-finishes-4th-video.html

IH/ iciHaiti