Cossío denounces that the U.S. does not give green light to baseball players for the V Clasico

Havana, December 8 (RHC)-- The United States is preventing some of Cuba's best players from participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told Reuters.

The deputy foreign minister told the agency that it was a "very positive step" to welcome Cuban-trained baseball players. However, he criticized that the United States, despite authorizing Cuba's participation in the upcoming competition, had not yet given the green light to several baseball players who play in the Major League Baseball (MLB).

"In the United States everything linked to Cuba is prohibited (...)," De Cossío told Reuters in an interview in Havana. "It is forbidden to trade, travel and even have a drink in Cuba, and even play baseball if you live in the United States," he added.

De Cossío said that "the problem we are facing today is that the players who wish to participate and that Cuba has invited do not have the permission (license) that the U.S. government has to give them."

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters.

On Wednesday morning, the Cuban Baseball Federation issued a press release addressing the issue and accusing the U.S. government of hindering its participation in the upcoming global tournament.