Riley stepped away to use the restroom, and Farrelly and Shim discussed leaving. Wilkinson told the Joint Investigative Team he learned of at least one occasion in mid-2015 in which Riley had been drinking socially with players. The Thorns selected a lead investigator who was relatively inexperienced in conducting sensitive investigations. 4. In the course of this investigation, the Joint Investigative Team spoke to 47 individuals with knowledge relevant to Riley, including current and former players, key leaders including owners and general managersfrom the Thorns and the Courage, and other current and former club staff, League staff, and U.S. Soccer staff who were involved in or had information about the 2015 Thorns Investigation and Riley's subsequent hiring at the Flash and the Courage.
As described in the following sections, these failures harmed NWSL players and discouraged players and other stakeholders from reporting misconduct. Malik stated that Paulson's text message "re-emphasize[d]" this point. Several players and staff described Clarkson's mood as unpredictable or hot or cold, leading players to feel like they were walking on eggshells around him or would not know what to expect in terms of his attitude on any given day.
51, with an erection.
U.S. Soccer's 2019 Consideration of Riley for U.S. Women's National Team Coach
A different player recounted that after a tournament, her team received a "ton of alcohol to have a party." B. sex. Two weeks later, an NWSL employee raised a concern she had heard from U.S. Soccer employees that the potential hire was "worse than Rory Dames in terms of belittling players" in youth soccer. It has become more apparent that the influence and control coaches hold over players and their careers increase the risk that abuse will occur in the first placeand that if it does, players will fear the repercussions of reporting that abuse.
He has denied all allegations against him. The policy prohibits harassing conduct, regardless of whether it rises to the level of a legal violation. Consider Developing a Plan to Conduct Exit Interviews of Departing Players
Many players bravely recounted painful and personal experiences before and during this investigation in service of truth, accountability, and reform. (1)
One player noted "bystander training" for players could be helpful so that players could help other players experiencing misconduct.
In evaluating professional coaching standards, the Joint Investigative Team reviewed and considered professional and academic literature on verbal and emotional abuse in sport. IV. The head coach would ask questions about players who were dating women, and another coach would contrast players who were dating women with players who were not, implying that the team should consider players' sexual orientations when making roster decisions. d) Lack of Transparency with the Courage Regarding Riley
Reflecting on the agreement, Whisler said that he believed the provisions were standard" and the club "just tried to get through it . Sky Blue was not the only club at which a staff member and player became involved. 1. Another NWSL employee expressed concern that criminal background checks are insufficient: "None of the issues we had last year with our coaches would have been discovered unless a reputation check had been conducted before they were hired. A. The anti-bullying, anti-harassment, anti-racism, and anti-retaliation trainings should remind players and staff of the reporting channels available to report misconduct, including law enforcement where appropriate. Inappropriate Sexual and Objectifying Remarks to Players
A spokesperson for Gotham FC provided Equalizer with the following statement regarding the handling of the complaint made against LaHue: NJ/NY Gotham FC ownership acted immediately upon learning of a confidential player complaint against former General Manager Alyse LaHue. Multiple players credibly reported that Richie Burke verbally and emotionally abused players, and that he berated players in a way that was not constructive or conducive to improving performance. Players also suggested that Whisler perpetuated and allowed Dames's behavior because Whisler was "cheap" and Dames coached on a reduced salary. The club immediately terminated the staff member for violating club policy. Co-Founder of Gonzo Soccer: Girls Soccer & Leadership Academy for under-served girls, a 501 (c)3 organization in the U.S., Mexico, and Colombia. The Courage learned nothing of the allegation that Riley had said players could avoid the suicide mile by kissing, or of the other clearly established
Its low operating budget, a response to the overspending of WUSA, left WPS to run on thin margins. According to Novo, after his conversation with ownership, he met with Holly and told him it was "time to move on."
The club did not contact Novo as part of its vetting process, even though Novo was the person most knowledgeable about the circumstances of Holly's departure.
In the wake of that public disclosure, Spirit CEO and managing partner Steve Baldwin resigned, but players called for him to sell his share of the team to minority owner Michele Kang. Players reported that club staff living with players allowed the staff to exercise control over players' personal lives. Gulati recalled that he was aware in 2014 that Dames offered his resignation to Whisler because of the 2014 player survey responses, but Whisler did not accept. This witness said that Riley did not make similar comments about players in relationships with men. Distribute Annual Player Surveys and Promptly Investigate Allegations of Misconduct Raised in Responses
The joint investigation team noted that all three clubs also "withheld key documents" from them until after the Yates report was released. disparagement language in the agreement included a caveat, which allowed Holly to "provide his honest assessment of players on the Club team, solely as it relates to their performance as soccer players." The Thorns's Flawed 2015 Investigation and Opaque Termination of Riley
As discussed above, this player was subsequently traded in circumstances suggesting that the trade was retaliatory. Lack of Transparency with NWSL Clubs About Riley's Conduct
Captaincy chaos and Waldrum ultimatums - Will Nigeria be ready for World Cup? The Joint Investigative Team considered whether the conduct at issue violated the 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy, regardless of when the conduct occurred. In terms of Dames's unpredictable behavior, one player told the investigator that she "never knew what to expect from Dames" because he was sometimes "jolly and goofing off" but then "would be 'pissed and yelling."" Discussing the National Women's Soccer League and all things women's soccer in the US Simon felt pressure to do so but declined. The Joint Investigative Team sent emails to all current and former players for whom the NWSL maintained an active email address, encouraging players to share any information about harassment, abuse, bullying, discrimination, or any other misconduct they experienced or observed during their time playing in the NWSL. A few weeks later, on October 2, 2014, then-NWSL Executive Director Cheryl Bailey shared a version of the USWNT players' comments with the Red Stars. Despite this instruction, multiple people observed Benstiti commenting on players' food consumption at the 2020 Challenge Cup, where Benstiti also hid food from players. Paulson told the Joint Investigative Team that the Thorns phrased the announcement this way based on the
Upon reading the article regarding Riley in The Athletic, Kurtz recognized many of her own experiences with Riley in the accounts of Shim and Farrelly, identified his conduct towards her as abusive, and realized that he had been grooming her for sexual abuse. 5, Investigative Methodology
Some players reported the interactions made them uncomfortable, but they felt like they had to tolerate the behavior because they were concerned they would face retaliation, including loss of playing time or being cut from their team, if they raised any concerns. Background checks should also be conducted on prospective owners of NWSL clubs, including prospective owners of expansion clubs or investors who are candidates to acquire majority or significant minority stakes in existing clubs. Morgan and NWSLPA President Tori Huster also spoke on the phone with Baird and Levine about the issue. Multiple players and club staff reported that in 2017, while Holly was head coach of Sky Blue, he began dating Pearce Rampone.
LaHue denies the allegations made against her and will make no further comment.. The club policies also failed to address NWSL reporting requirements. that he had created a "sexualized team environment" at a Chicago youth club that "crossed the line to sexual relationships in multiple cases, though those relationships may .
2. You need to lose weight. One player said that during the 2020 Challenge Cup, which began five months after Benstiti signed his contract, Benstiti was "already hiding food under the table he didn't want girls to eat." "The continuation of ongoing investigations initiated under the NWSL's current antiharassment policy, and the recommendation of sanctions where appropriate."
Even as individuals at U.S. Soccer came to the conclusion that Riley's conduct made him unsuitable to be a national team coach, no one took any action to remove him from coaching NWSL players. The previous investigation into misconduct allegations was conducted by outside counsel for the Pride in March 2022 (the March Investigation). Ownership terminated Ms. LaHues employment on July 9 and stands by that decision.. Holly complained to Simon about Hendrix and referred to Hendrix as a "cockblock." Plush stated that he was advised by counsel that such information was "confidential" and could not be shared by the League. Consider Creating an Alternative Complaint Resolution Program
The 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy defines emotional misconduct as deliberate, noncontact behavior that has the potential to cause emotional or psychological harm to another person," including verbal, physical, or other acts that deny attention or support to or degrade, insult, sabotage, humiliate, belittle, berate, and/or single out, ignore, or reject an individual. In certain circumstances, NWSL personnel maliciously threatening to waive, bench, or trade
She recalled trying to leave Holly's house, but as she rounded a corner to go downstairs to leave, Holly grabbed her arm. When LaHue was named GM in April, her first big goal was to re-establish a relationship with the fanbase, which had been very vocal about ousting former Sky Blue president and GM, Tony Novo. 2. 6. Gulati said he could not recall the details regarding the Flash's consideration of Riley but told the Joint
There is no evidence that any additional investigative steps were taken between September 2019 and Wahlke's departure from U.S. Soccer the following year. WUSA, the first women's professional soccer league in the United States, began play in April 2001. Dames told the investigator this was not retaliatory, though Dames said he understood why the player felt retaliated against. It's not just this coach. Gulati asked the group to meet the next day to discuss the matter. "A reopening of the 2015 investigation regarding former NWSL coach Paul Riley, including a review of the circumstances surrounding his departure from the Portland Thorns FC, and his subsequent hiring by Western New York Flash and the North Carolina Courage." When the team arrived in Chicago, Dames "gave the team the entire weekend off." Separately, during a large group meeting with Baird and Levine, she told them about some of her experiences with Riley. Outreach and Coordination Efforts
An initial complaint against Clarkson was filed in December 2021, and the joint investigators leading Wednesday's report spoke with seven current and former players who described the coach as "volatile, verbally abusive, and not showing appropriate regard for players' wellbeing." As a result, the creation and enforcement of policies and in some cases, investigations and the communication of their findings-fell through the cracks. On one occasion, Dames made a derogatory comment to a player who was a mother, saying something like, "What makes you think you're going to be a good mother if you can't communicate?" In his interview with the Joint Investigative Team, Clarkson exhibited a lack of candor. Riley also held club events for players at his Long Island home, where players reported that they drank with him during their stay. Players told the Joint Investigative Team that Dames threatened them, saying he would shred a player's contract or kick them off the team or out of practice if they made a mistake. By January 2012, WPS suspended operations and announced it would be folding permanently in May 2012. Levine forwarded this email to Plush in September 2015. A 2012 ESPN article later reported that Borislow's conduct included verbal abuse and sexually suggestive comments towards players. 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
In September 2014, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati was made aware of a complaint by Christen Press that Dames created a toxic environment at the Red Stars, but did not prompt U.S. Soccer to act in response to the complaint. Aside from Lines, Levine told the Joint Investigative Team that she could not recall any specific follow-up by the League or U.S. Soccer based on survey results. Investigators determined that LaHue's interactions with the player constituted misconduct. 22, b)
The severance agreement provided that "Dames and the [Red Stars] may in the future enter into a new independent contracting relationship and wish to make clear their ability to do so upon a mutual agreement." Additionally, Farrelly was not treated as someone who was also targeted by Riley, and her interview-which lasted only 30 minutes at most-focused on Shim's allegations against Riley and whether Farrelly had told anyone about the incidents; the interview did not probe deeply into Farrelly's own negative experiences with Riley. During this meeting, Simon recalled Wilkins and her supervisor asked Simon to share as much detail as she was comfortable sharing about Holly's treatment of her, and they asked her to go from "start to finish." The first departure occurred in August 2020, when Royals owner Dell Loy Hansen sold the club after reports surfaced that he had made racist comments. The Joint Investigative Team also contacted all 12 active clubs in the NWSL in writing at the outset of the investigation.