Cuban defender Cuba defender Yosmel De Armas was believed to be attempting to defect to the United States on Monday March 26.
He was listed as absent for his team’s final game in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying competition.
Rumors began to circulate that De Armas was seeking exile in the United States when he did not appear at LP Field for Cuba's Group A clash with Canada.
Coach Raul Triana Gonzalez claimed that to his knowledge De Armas was at the team hotel and cited illness or injury for the player's absence.
Two Cuban players sought asylum during the Olympic women’s qualifying tournament in Vancouver in January, and seven players defected during the 2008 version of the men’s CONCACAF tournament in Tampa, Fla.
Yosniel Mesa defected during the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer.
A string of Cuban baseball players have earned lucrative MLB contracts after fleeing their homeland and being allowed to remain in the United States.
All feeds
