US Soccer Appoints Investigator as It Becomes Latest Sport Caught Up in #MeToo Scandal
14:58 GMT 04.10.2021 (Updated: 19:35 GMT 03.11.2022)
© AFP 2023 / US women's soccer
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Football - or soccer - is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, especially among women and girls. The US won the women’s World Cup in 2015 and 2019 and Megan Rapinoe became their biggest star.
The US Soccer Federation has hired a former federal prosecutor, Sally Yates, to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct in the women’s professional game.
On 30 September, North Carolina Courage, who play in the National Women’s Soccer League, fired their Liverpool-born head coach Paul Riley for "very serious allegations of misconduct".
I believe Kaiya McCullough. I believe Sinead Farrelly. I believe Mana Shim. I believe the anonymous players. I believe the players who have yet to come forward or speak on the record. I believe them all. #NWSL
— Allison Brown (@allibecc) September 30, 2021
Riley, 58, was sacked after the sports website The Athletic claimed there were allegations of wide-ranging sexual misconduct by him dating back to 2010 and stemming from a number of different US clubs.
The Englishman was the second NWSL coach to be fired in a week, following Washington Spirit’s decision to terminate the contract of coach Richie Burke after allegations of verbal and emotional abuse.
The Englishman was the second NWSL coach to be fired in a week, following Washington Spirit’s decision to terminate the contract of coach Richie Burke after allegations of verbal and emotional abuse.
Megan Rapinoe, the biggest star in the World Cup-winning women’s team, tweeted after Riley was sacked: "Burn it all down. Let all their heads roll".
Men, protecting men, who are abusing women. I’ll say it again, men, protecting men, who are ABUSING WOMEN. Burn it all down. Let all their heads roll. https://t.co/iHg3JlVVe0
— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) September 30, 2021
US Soccer said Yates, a former US prosecutor and deputy attorney general, had "extensive experience conducting complex and highly sensitive investigations.”
Last week, the Lisa Baird resigned as commissioner of the NWSL after being accused of dragging her heels over the allegations.
Last week, the Lisa Baird resigned as commissioner of the NWSL after being accused of dragging her heels over the allegations.
According to US Soccer, Yates would “be given full autonomy, access and the necessary resources to follow the facts and evidence wherever they may lead."
Unlike the NWSL, US Soccer crushed their selection for outside counsel. Want to learn more about Sally Yates? Enjoy this piece by @RyanLizza. https://t.co/inkGcg2bBV https://t.co/vpQXHnv3eJ
— Haley Carter - هیلی کارتر (@H_C_Carter) October 3, 2021
The Athletic claimed two North Carolina players, Sinead Farrelly and Meleana Shim, had accused Riley of inappropriate behaviour.
Farrelly accused him of “coercing” her into having sex in a hotel room while he was her coach at the Philadelphia Independence.
In a statement to The Athletic, Riley denied any wrongdoing and said: "I have never had sex with, or made sexual advances towards these players”.
Farrelly accused him of “coercing” her into having sex in a hotel room while he was her coach at the Philadelphia Independence.
In a statement to The Athletic, Riley denied any wrongdoing and said: "I have never had sex with, or made sexual advances towards these players”.
