In a major development that has gotten tongues wagging in the sports industry, four football coaches, Paul Riley, Christy Holly, Rory Dames and Richie Burke named in a National Women’s Soccer League investigation into abuse and malpractice in women’s football have been banned for life, the NWSL has said in a statement.
It was clarified that the punishments were part of a wide-ranging package of suspensions and fines against multiple individuals and organisations which followed publication of the NWSL’s findings last month in its Joint Investigative Report.
It could be recalled that last month, the league said it had found “ongoing misconduct” at most league clubs after an earlier probe uncovered evidence of harassment and sexual abuse.
Reports said the NWSL investigation spent 14 months examining complaints by NWSL players and uncovered systemic failures by the league.
Riley, a former Portland Thorns coach featured prominently in a separate US Soccer probe led by former US Attorney General Sally Yates.
Dames, a former Chicago Red Stars coach also came under scrutiny in the Yates report, which detailed allegations of verbal abuse and insults to players.
On her part, Holly, a former Racing Louisville coach, was fired after being accused of sexually coercing and groping a player.
More so, the Washington Spirit’s Burke meanwhile was reported to have made remarks about race and ethnicity.
It was reported that seven other individuals were also given suspensions or will be required to acknowledge wrongdoing and accept responsibility for inappropriate conduct before being considered for employment in the NWSL in future.
Meanwhile, the NWSL said its own league office would be fined at least $1 million and would be required to undergo a sweeping overhaul.
Harping on the way forward, the NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said the league would “continue to prioritize implementing and enhancing the policies, programs and systems that put the health and safety of our players first.”
Berman added that “Those actions are fundamental to the future of our league, especially as we build a league that strengthens our players’ ability to succeed and prosper on and off the pitch”.
It was stated that the Chicago Red Stars will be fined $1.5 million, the NWSL said, while the Portland Thorns would be forced to pay $1 million.
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