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Sky Blue FC tabs Freya Coombe as interim head coach The NWSL should also develop standards for evaluating an applicant's fitness for the position based on the results of reputational checks. Holly also crossed boundaries with other players by making unwanted sexual advances and overt sexual remarks to them. 14 According to that document, Wilkinson told Lines and then-Flash President Alex Sahlen-who is also the daughter of former Flash owner Joe Sahlen and the wife of Lines-that an investigation into Riley had occurred based on "only one incident with a disgruntled player," but that no wrongdoing was found. A player on another team recalled that when her team was divided into groups, an assistant coach commented that one of the groups of players was the prettiest and most attractive group. For example, in 2018, the owner of one club learned of a relationship between a staff member and a player. Things actually can be spoken up about, be brought to light." if you don't want it, get a regular job. In one case, a member of club leadership, while following up on younger players' complaints of staff mistreatment, was told by more seasoned players that the younger players were "entitled" and did not appreciate, for example, that the club provided them meals at the training facility. When the Joint Investigative Team interviewed her, Wahlke denied making such a request. Enhance Reporting and Investigation Procedures. Following the September 30, 2021, publication of the Athletic article detailing allegations against Courage Head Coach Paul Riley, the NWSLPA released a statement announcing that players would "no longer be complicit in a culture of silence that has enabled abuse and exploitation in [the League] and in [soccer]." One player reported that Riley ripped" a player for being too fat during a halftime speech. 76, ever having a second discussion about the remark with the player. The Joint Investigative Team asked Harrington for his cell phone records, with call and text details, for the month in question. Players also reported concerns with how clubs responded to incidents involving reported discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and which gave them the impression that sexual orientation discrimination was not important. He asked her what she was eating, told her she looked chubby, and told her she would need to lose 14 pounds before the game to keep her starting role, telling her, "I hope you know I'm doing this because I love you." READ MORE: Ex-Philadelphia Independence coach Paul Riley fired from NWSL team amid allegations of sexual misconduct. She was later named the team's interim general manager in April 2019 after former GM Tony Novo resigned. Later in 2015, U.S. Soccer received both Shim's initial complaint against Riley and the Thorns's investigative report. They used derogatory and insulting language towards players, displayed insensitivity towards players mental health, and engaged in retaliation against players who attempted to report or did report concerns., In addressing root causes of those problems, the report says: Like many institutions, the League has been influenced by sexism, racism, homophobia, and other biases. At first he told her he admired her fitness and her "soccer body," but then shifted to making other comments about her body, including calling her "sexy." Alyse LaHue, a former team executive, also received a two-year penalty, while ex-coaches Farid Benstiti, James Clarkson and Vera Pauw could return only by meeting specified conditions, such as . Out of respect for player privacy, this Report does not provide a detailed account of the evidence or findings in this and other instances where the Joint Investigative Team determined no misconduct occurred. To help address these concerns, players were invited to ask the Joint Investigative Team or the NWSLPA's counsel any questions about the investigation and interview process, confidentiality, and any other concerns without any obligation or expectation to participate in an interview. These aren't criminal issues, they're behavior issues." Players suggested that this relationship led to favoritism and improper information-sharing. The Joint Investigative Team also collected and reviewed relevant emails, texts, and WhatsApp messages from interviewees and the club. A different player recounted that after a tournament, her team received a "ton of alcohol to have a party." The report, however, acknowledges that "a majority of players expressed the view that Clarkson's treatment of players did not rise to the level of abuse or misconduct. She specifically denied receiving any complaints from Press regarding Dames. Background Some clubs provide housing for both staff and players, and in some cases, staff and players lived in the same apartment complexes. 96, player commenting in the 2020 player survey that Burke used demeaning language. Until now, the only reported detail was that LaHue was the subject of a complaint filed under the leagues anti-harassment policy. 2. Following this discussion, Kurtz recalled having a telephone call with Hammond to discuss her request. The Equalizer is partnering with The Next to bring more womens sports stories toyourinbox. 46, of Dames's issues with the player's boyfriend. In discussing the player surveys, Flynn also noted he could "not remember any concerns that were ever brought to [his] attention by USSF personnel that specifically related to the quality of coaching or any abusive coaching tactics." On an away trip to another state, she asked Dames for permission to visit her parents, who lived in the state. One player remarked that rumors [got] around" because of the player-staff relationship, and a staff member said that while you could articulate a policy of "church and state . The NWSL should not rely on clubs to voluntarily share this information with other clubs. Please sign in below. Gulati told the Joint Investigative Team that he surmised that he had been given legal advice not to disclose information regarding the allegations and investigation, but could not recall any specifics about that advice. In one instance, players said they felt confined to their hotel on their day off because Dames told them that each player would have to meet with him "within five minutes of him calling them or they would be cut from the team, but did not give them advance notice of the meeting times. She also won a. For instance, players reported that Dames mistreated one player in part because of "issues [he] had with her boyfriend," and the U.S. Soccer report detailed two incidents which players felt were indicative The Joint Investigative Team engaged with 15 current and former League staff to invite them to be interviewed by the Joint Investigative Team or to collect documents. 35, conducting thorough fact-finding. Some players expressed that they sometimes let these microaggressions go because they felt that speaking out about their experiences would make others uncomfortable or because they felt they would not be believed. Like many institutions, the League has been influenced by sexism, racism, homophobia, and other biases. The league will work with the players association to ensure that the results of these team and league reviews will serve as a road map to ensure safe environments for players and staff." A player for another club recalled that she had to take a break from the team to be with family due to anxiety, and when she returned, both her coach and the general manager informed her she would have to find her own housing because she had "made the choice" to go home temporarily due to mental health reasons. The Joint Investigative Team made substantial efforts to contact individuals who might have information relevant to past and present misconduct in the NWSL, and did not refuse any witness's request to speak with the Joint Investigative Team during this investigation. Alyse LaHue, former vice president and general manager of NJ/NY Gotham FC (formerly Sky Blue FC), allegedly made unwanted sexual advances towards a player according to the joint investigative report released by the National Women's Soccer League and the NWSL Players Association on Wednesday. Despite the discussions between U.S. Soccer, the NWSL, and both the Thorns and Courage regarding Rileys unsuitability to coach the USWNT, no steps were taken to remove or prevent him from coaching NWSL players, the report alleges. One former player differentiated between raised voices in different locations: the player opined, "If you're working in an office cubicle, no one will scream at you for your terrible touch, but that might be needed on the field." We felt like charity," one player explained. Hendrix recalled Simon telling her that Holly would grab her buttocks or touch her inappropriately when she walked through the door in front of him. Baird suggested to Levine that they should set up a call with Farrelly, but Levine stated that they should email Farrelly first. Farid Benstiti (OL Reign, Head Coach, 2020-2021) 2. This behavior contrasted with other periods during which he would ignore Shim. More broadly across the NWSL, several witnesses recalled instances when coaches and other club staff would confuse non-white players, sometimes repeatedly. Since the training in 2019, the NWSL has not offered a League-wide antiharassment training. 4. The NWSL represents the third attempt to establish a women's professional soccer league in the United States. An investigation commissioned by the National Women's Soccer League and its players union found "widespread misconduct" directed at players dating back to the beginnings nearly a decade ago of the 1. The surveys also asked some open-ended questions and provided space for players to enter comments. Additionally, Shim told Garcia that following the incident in which she and Farrelly kissed at Riley's apartment, Farrelly told Shim that this kind of thing happened with Riley. 97, In an email exchange in July 2017, Sky Blue owner Steven Temares asked Novo whether "Christy has a relationship that takes advantage of any player or makes his independence as a coach questionable among the players." Later that month, the NWSL adopted a Non-Fraternization Policy as part of its Operations Manual. The new investigation alleged that LaHue had a romantic interest in an unnamed player, and published text messages between LaHue and that player. U.S. Soccer's 2019 Consideration of Riley for U.S. Women's National Team Coach Riley also held club events for players at his Long Island home, where players reported that they drank with him during their stay. Two players reported that Dames texted some players in a manner that felt "very different" from his communications with other players. b) Non-Contact Physical Behavior Clarkson denied making this comment, but witnesses corroborated that Clarkson was visibly upset and frustrated at the player, and that the player was upset. He noted, for instance, that if Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler quit the League, the League would fail. The larger point is that if the environment at [the Red Stars] was different, and were perceived as one of mutual respect and professionalism, these issues would likely not be issues." In addition to the USSF Dames Report's internal contradictions, the report summary inappropriately minimized the severity of players' concerns. Clarkson then demanded hotel security footage (which investigators said he did not get) and reprimanded the team for drinking before a game, although player maintain they did not. Coaches' behavior may cross the line into emotional misconduct when their criticisms are divorced from performance-related or corrective language, including by using insults or derogatory language to criticize players, attacking characteristics of players that are unrelated to their professional performance, or threatening players' careers. Alyse is the General Manager for Sky Blue FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The Joint Investigative Team received evidence that LaHue texted the player, "You were in my dream last night. Women's Soccer Bans Ex-Coaches and Fines Teams After Misconduct Report I'm going to watch what you eat," and the other recalled Another player echoed this sentiment, saying, There are relationships in the League between player and coach, and there have been for a long time. Romantic relationships between players and staff members pose several potential problems, including (i) the power Neither Cromwell nor Greene took any steps to convey to players that they did not need to apologize for participating in an investigation. g) Kurtz alleges that in 2019, Riley shared detailed information about his life, including preferred sexual positions, and persistently tried to obtain more details about her romantic life in the weeks and months that followed. Shim told the Joint Investigative Team she cried when Riley joined the Flash; she said she never wanted to see Riley again, and she was concerned for other players. Already a member? The same is true of the Red Stars's hiring of Rory Dames as their head coach. In a follow-up interview, the lawyer said the alterations were not made by Ms. LaHue, and did not provide any further details. In 2014, when he read that players felt Dames was creating "a hostile work environment," Whisler responded that the players who raised those concerns probably "didn't start or play the way they wanted to." A player for the Courage said Riley "would ask [her] to dinner in a "very casual way." The Joint Investigative Team also contacted all 12 active clubs in the NWSL in writing at the outset of the investigation. One player recalled that six players spoke during the meeting; only one returned for the next season. Burke also reportedly described one player as a "moron" in front of others on the team. The NWSL's leaders have included Cheryl Bailey (Executive Director, 201214), Jeff Plush (Commissioner, 201517), Amanda Duffy (Managing Director of Operations, Managing Director, and President, 2016-20), Lisa Baird (Commissioner, 2020-21), Marla Messing (Interim CEO, 202122), and Jessica Berman (Commissioner, 2022present). The investigators said they conducted more than 200 interviews and reviewed some 200,000 documents. 8. After Dames tendered his resignation, Whisler entered into a separation agreement with Dameseven though Dames was terminable at will. In order to ensure the integrity of reporting channels, and to mitigate concerns regarding potential retaliation, the NWSL should require that separate individuals hold key leadership and management roles within clubs. Inappropriate Sexual and Objectifying Remarks to Players These biases are central to any evaluation of misconduct in the League.