HAVANA – World Baseball Softball Federation (WBSC) president Ricardo Fraccari confirmed Monday that the international organization supports Cuba to ensure the island’s baseball players can sign contracts overseas.
The director’s four-day visit comes after months during which dozens of Cuban baseball players have left their teams to emigrate and seek contracts with professional clubs or in the major leagues of the United States, a country that has imposed sanctions on the Caribbean nation and has restrictions on sports ties.
One of the results of this visit was “the implementation of a legal plan that would allow players to go out and be protected,” Vracari said during a press conference. “I’m here to open doors, not close them,” he added.
The official did not provide details on the form or extent of those contracts, but noted that leagues such as those of South Korea or Japan could receive Cubans and could also participate in the island’s national championships.
In October last year, half of the U-23 team – half a dozen talented people – left the World Cup in Mexico and the athletes traveled to the United States in search of opportunities with teams from that country. Baseball on the island, once the most popular sport with residents and involving young people from local neighborhoods and clubs, is slowing down.
During the reign of US President Barack Obama, major leagues negotiated a deal with the island to include Cuban baseball players, but the deal was influenced by the arrival of Donald Trump, who tightened sanctions on the country. ‘isolates and cut the ties in all areas. , including sport.
Vracari used his trip to the island to meet Cuban baseball at all levels, while visiting Cienfuegos training academies and sports equipment factories.
He noted that the World Federation is working to ensure that the tense situation regarding the difficulties and delays in issuing visas is no longer repeated so that Cuban athletes of this discipline can participate in competitions in the United States, as happened in the middle of last year. With the baseball of the Americas before the Olympics in Florida.
According to Fraccari, regardless of the country organizing the event, he must ensure that the athletes have entry permits in the country hosting the competitions.
