The Associated Press
March 15, 2008
Havana, Cuba - Cuba called the desertion of seven soccer players at the
Olympic qualifying tournament in the United States ``dishonorable'' and
a ``low blow'' on Friday.
The seven players left the team in Tampa, Fla., after their opening
match, a 1-1 draw with the United States on Tuesday night.
On Thursday night, the team started with 10 players when one was
suspended for a red card in the U.S, match, and lost to Honduras 2-0.
``After their brilliant performance against the United States ... Cuba's
Under-23 team suffered the desertion of seven members under the
protection of the Cuban Adjustment Act,'' read a short note in the
Communist Party daily Granma.
Entitled ``Low Blow for Cuban Soccer,'' the article noted that Cuba was
left significantly weakened against Honduras.
The Communist Youth Union newspaper Juventud Rebelde, the island's other
national daily, qualified the desertions as ``dishonorable.''
While Cuba hasn't officially identified the players, Jose Manuel
Miranda, Erlys Garcia Baro, Yenier Bermudez, Yordany Alvarez and Loanni
Prieto missed practice Wednesday and were absent against Honduras.
Yendry Diaz and Eder Roldan also missed the game, with Diaz telling ESPN
that the two players left the team Wednesday.
Under the Cold War-era Cuban Adjustment Act that provides special
protection to immigrants from the communist-run island, the United
States instituted a ``wet foot, dry foot'' policy that lets Cubans who
reach American soil remain in the country and apply for U.S. residency
after one year.
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