WASHINGTON, DC — An independent investigation
into allegations of misconduct in US women’s soccer released Monday found
“systemic”
abuse and sexual misconduct by coaches.
اضافة اعلان
The probe by former
acting US attorney general Sally Yates and the King & Spalding law firm
uncovered verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct, including a pattern
of “sexually charged comments, unwanted sexual advances and touching, and
coercive sexual intercourse.”
The 172-page report
included interviews with more than 200 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
players — many of them members of US national teams — and detailed patterns of
abuse from team coaches, manipulation, and tirades plus retaliation for those
who complained.
“Our investigation
has revealed a league in which abuse and misconduct — verbal and emotional
abuse and sexual misconduct — had become systemic, spanning multiple teams,
coaches and victims,” Yates wrote in the report’s executive summary.
“Abuse in the NWSL
is rooted in a deeper culture in women’s soccer that normalizes verbally
abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players,” she added.
“The players who
have come forward to tell their stories have demonstrated great courage. It’s
now time that the institutions that failed them in the past listen to the
players and enact the meaningful reform players deserve.”
The investigation
began after a 2021 report by The Athletic about abusive behavior and sexual
misconduct by former Portland Thorns manager Paul Riley.
That report said
complaints were brought to former
US Soccer Federation (USSF) president Sunil Gulati but no action was
taken by USSF against Riley. Although he eventually was fired by the Thorns,
Riley was hired to coach another NWSL team.
“The verbal and
emotional abuse players describe in the NWSL is not merely ‘tough’ coaching,”
Yates wrote.
“And the players
affected are not shrinking violets. They are among the best athletes in the
world. They include members of the US Women’s national team, veterans of
multiple World Cup and Olympic tournaments.”
Rory Dames coached
the Chicago Red Stars from the NWSL’s start until resigning last November. The
report outlined his obscenities and verbal abuse and insults to players, saying
a sexualized workplace led to multiple improper sexual relationships with
players.
Christy Holly was a
coach with Sky Blue for half a season in 2016 before departing after complaints
of verbal abuse and an improper relationship, the report said.
Holly was hired
last year by expansion club Racing Louisville, where verbal and emotional abuse
was repeated and he was fired after sexually coercing and groping a player.
The NWSL, in a
statement, promised “systemic reform” to make the league one “with safe and
professional environments to train and compete” and acknowledged the “anxiety
and mental strain” for women reliving traumatic incidents.
“We continue to
admire their courage in coming forward to share their stories,” it said. “We
know we must learn from and take responsibility for the painful lessons of the
past in order to move the league into a better future.”
The report found
teams, league officials, and the USSF “repeatedly failed to respond appropriately
when confronted with player reports and evidence of abuse,” and “failed to
institute basic measures to prevent and address it, even as some leaders
privately acknowledged the need for workplace protections.”
“Those at the NWSL
and USSF in a position to correct the record stayed silent,” the report said.
“And no one at the teams, the league or the federation demanded better of
coaches.”
‘Heartbreaking’
USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone, a former US women’s national team
player who took charge in 2020, said measures are already underway to prevent
such violations from happening again.
“This
investigation’s findings are heartbreaking and deeply troubling,” Cone said.
“The abuse described is inexcusable and has no place on any playing field, in
any training facility or workplace.
“US Soccer is fully
committed to doing everything in its power to ensure that all players — at all
levels — have a safe and respectful place to learn, grow and compete.”
Federation initiatives
include online and text systems for reporting incidents, tighter verifying of
coaches and referees, and background screening.
A new office of
participant safety will be established to address the findings and act on
recommendations.
“We’re taking the
immediate action that we can today,” Cone said. “We can create meaningful,
long-lasting change throughout the soccer ecosystem,” Cone said.
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