She recalled thinking at the time, "they're all adults, and did not consider the "context of how these people met." "The club has a tremendous history and. In some instances, close relationships between coaching staff and club management led players to feel they could not report concerns about coaches to management or vice versa. Malik, on the other hand, provided a contrary explanation of his communications with Paulson. Riley told Shim to delete his text messages because Shim was living with her then-partner, and Shim complied. 112 The banned coaches engaged in sexual misconduct, verbal and emotional abuse and made sexist and racist remarks to players, a 14-month investigation found. 1. A member of Trauma-Informed, Survivor-Centered Approach Kurtz earned playing time while a more senior member of the Courage was competing with the USWNT, and she recalled Riley encouraging her with the news that Jill Ellis, then-Head Coach of the USWNT, was considering her for a spot on the team. At Sky Blue, a former chief financial officer handled the club's budgeting, sponsorships, payroll, and merchandising in addition to the club's HR. Paulson told the Joint Investigative Team that Garcia and an attorney presented the report to Thorns leadership. The Joint Investigative Team found multiple instances of romantic relationships between players and staff members in violation of this policy. OL Reign's July 2021 announcement that former OL Reign Head Coach Farid Benstiti had resigned from the club made no mention of his disparaging comments. The investigation began in May 2018, and within a few weeks, another player made a separate complaint to the NWSL about Dames. Weight-Shaming Comments and Pressure One player recounted feeling like Dames picked the players who did not "have power to report him," while those with "more status in the League" were given his trust and respect. Christy Holly's Sexual Misconduct and Abuse The NWSLPA retained Weil to conduct this investigation. The Courage understood Riley had denied this allegation. A 2012 ESPN article later reported that Borislow's conduct included verbal abuse and sexually suggestive comments towards players. In January 2020, Simon left West Ham and signed with the Dash. One player explained that it took her several years to realize that Riley's treatment of players on the Courage was manipulative, and that other coaches don't treat people this way." And while Sky Blue leadership, the League, and Racing Louisville knew that Holly had a relationship with Pearce Rampone, who had been one of his players, the relationship was generally viewed as not concerning because Pearce Rampone was older than Holly and a prominent figure within the women's soccer landscape. Simon said she told Holly that now that he was her boss, he would have to stop the inappropriate behavior, and he replied that he had until January 1, because that was when her contract started. Gulati told the Joint Investigative Team that he believed he read the player survey results, but he did not recall being aware of 2014 player comments that indicated Riley was verbally abusive. These failures placed players at risk and deepened players' distrust that reports of misconduct would be handled appropriately. - NWSL abuse allegations as they happened: Portland Thorns, Washington Spirit timelines, day by day. 3. Instead, these conversations occurred on an ad hoc basis and were left to individual clubs. Adding to this controversy, in July 2011, the WPS players' union filed a grievance that accused Borislow of bullying and threatening players, and creating a "hostile, oppressive and intimidating work environment." Multiple players reported concerns about staff members having frequent social interactions with players and controlling players' social lives. Previously, Alyse spend five years as the GM of the Chicago Red Stars. One player identified by Cromwell and Greene as having been involved in the March 2022 investigation was informed that the club was either waiving her or buying out her contract. to any third-party that denigrates, disparages, criticizes, mentally" and could not perform at her best for the rest of the year. Players also reported a pervasive fear of retaliation should they raise concerns about Burke. Gotham FC cooperated in all respects with the NWSL investigation. to discount the impact of his behaviors." A player similarly described Riley policing details, like players' off-field wardrobes, and described his behavior as creating a constant state of being on edge." When the Joint Investigative Team interviewed her, Wahlke denied making such a request. She also emphasized that she was focused on getting a balanced" perspective from interviewees; in other The NWSL should update the 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy to incorporate the NonFraternization Policy currently found in its Operations Manual. NWSL joint investigation reveals details on Alyse LaHue's departure . Some players viewed this as defending stadium security staff. The NWSL engaged Covington & Burling LLP ("Covington") to conduct an independent investigation, and the NWSLPA engaged counsel at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP ("Weil"). However, that position is inconsistent with other evidence, including an email from counsel for the Thorns and Plush's own prior communications with Sky Blue. The NWSL periodically distributed annual player surveys seeking feedback from players about a variety of topics. Starr said it would have been helpful to have received more clarity and guidance about how to handle the situation in her role, and that she received no training from the NWSL. Limitations and Challenges This may include engaging with the NWSLPA or third-party experts regarding reforms, including the measures the Joint Investigative Team recommends below, to ensure that they are implemented in a way that meets players' needs. Levine did not recall reviewing survey responses in the ordinary course, but told the Joint Investigative Team that she would have expected survey responses referring to abuse to be elevated to HR, the commissioner, and to her. LaHue denies the allegations made against her and will make no further comment.. He began by making dirty or sexual jokes; however, his behavior escalated. One player said, After games, you could find [Riley] at the bar with players buying drinks, which she felt crossed "a propriety line." A player told the Joint Investigative Team that the club first attempted to fix the social media post without acknowledging the error or reaching out to the player, and only later issued an apology after Baucom posted about the error on Twitter. The Joint Investigative Team carefully considered which individuals to identify by name in this Report. The Joint Investigative Team contacted and attempted to interview every individual who was the subject of a report of misconduct and whom the Joint Investigative Team considered naming in this Report. In the player survey, Thorns players anonymously commented that Riley "ripped/yelled at players in a hurtful, non-productive way," was "verbally abussive [sic]," and would "call [players] dumb, stupid, slow, idiotic, retarded, we have no balls, we will never be better than the average 16 year old boy, worthless." Another player recalled hearing about and witnessing the same behavior. Holly spoke with investigators for the Yates report but pulled out of a scheduled interview with the joint investigation after the release of the Yates report, which of course publicly revealed his misconduct for the first time. The Joint Investigative Team found no evidence that any of the 2020 player survey responses were elevated to Levine or anyone working in HR at the League. One former player recalled that her college goalkeeper coach and assistant coach were both married to former players. The 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy clarifies that it applies to all "NWSL Personnel," which includes "certain individuals and entities not employed by NWSL," including team owners, team personnel, and team medical staff. However, Benstiti did not comply with that directive. The NWSL should re-open investigations when appropriate upon obtaining additional relevant information. A report detailing the results of the year-long investigation was published Wednesday, a little over two . Additionally, Paulson told the Joint Investigative Team that Wahlke contacted him at that time regarding Riley, and the two discussed the Thorns's 2015 investigation. For example, the interviews of Shim and Farrelly were conducted at the Thorns's stadium-rather than a neutral locationwhere Shim and Farrelly may have been seen by club personnel or other players. Cromwell told club leadership in reference to these players that the negative players suck the life out of this team," and that they were miserable people" and "bullies." Eventually, she reported the staff member to her coach because she felt that the staff member was "crossing the line and making [her] uncomfortable." After she told Holly not to touch her, Simon felt Holly was harsher to her on the field: yelling at her frequently, taking her out of games regardless of her performance, and refusing to shake her hand when she came off the field, but shaking other players' hands. "The lack of clearly established responsibilities allowed individuals within these institutions to disclaim personal responsibility for player protection and to turn a blind eye or shift blame to other individuals and entities, while players were left exposed to further misconduct and unsafe environments. Multiple players described being made to feel like they were a charity case for their ownership, rather than professional athletes. Riley grabbed Shim, pulled her back against him, and tried to grind against her. A player recalled the owner of her club warning her that if players complained, the club would fold as the Breakers had already done because the owner would depart, anyone buying the club would have to assume the debts attached to it, and no one would be willing to do so. they were always going to take [Wilkinson's] recommendation over mine." Cromwell and Greene may apply to the Commissioner for consideration only after they have successfully completed the mandatory training and coaching, acknowledged wrongdoing, and demonstrated a sincere commitment to modifying their behavior. "We've seen other teams continue to up their professional standards, and Sky Blue has to follow suit," LaHue said. a) According to the staff member, Predmore said the Benstiti weight-shaming issue was a cultural thing and that he "worked on it." Please be assured that we will carefully and thoroughly investigate this matter." On the basis of that legal advice, and despite his stated concerns, Plush did not facilitate further conversations, seek additional advice when the advice he received was inconsistent with the stated purpose of the Thorns's disclosure, or raise his concerns with the Board of Governors. Another player said that Pauw was able to monitor players and would tell them they could not go to the pool in the afternoon. . Sports article mentioned Benstiti by name, stating that the club's technical staff, led by Benstiti, didn't care about communicating fitness goals respectfully." Morgan and NWSLPA President Tori Huster also spoke on the phone with Baird and Levine about the issue. In a Tweet late Friday afternoon, the National Women's Soccer League club announced that LaHue had, as of July 9 - a week ago today - was no longer employed by the team. The 29-player list Photo Copyright Chris Pedota for NewJersey.com, via Meg Linehan of The Athletic on Twitter, investigation commissioned by U.S. Soccer and led by Sally Yates, the former U.S. attorney general, put out a statement via Meg Linehan on Twitter stating, Yazmeen Ryan is at Gotham FC for the long haul, Why Naomi Girma could be the USWNTs most important player at the World Cup, Pride swap white shorts for black as global push continues for player welfare, Waived from Gotham FC, Kelly Ann Livingstone sees opportunity with Fortuna Hjrring, 2023 NWSL schedule released: Actually, theres a lot to like, Sinead Farrelly joins Gotham FC preseason roster as Non-Roster Invitee, Joint investigation finds widespread, ongoing misconduct in NWSL, calls for policy reforms, The definitive Christy Holly timeline in the NWSL and U.S. Soccer, USWNT wrestling with identity ahead of World Cup, USWNT 2, Brazil 1: On fullback positioning and the double-edge sword of transitions, Several players drop out of French national team ahead of the World Cup, Seriously, a fall-to-spring schedule for the NWSL? Another club's general manager noted a lack of clarity in whether the NWSL or clubs should be handling complaints from players. In addition, Whisler acknowledged that Dames's ownership of Eclipse Select, a local youth club, created a mutually beneficial relationship between the Red Stars and Eclipse. The evidence suggests he also discussed with Levine and with U.S. Soccer's outside counsel that Levine should give Sky Blue certain information about the allegations of sexual harassment against Riley, the circumstances of Riley's termination from the Thorns, and conclusions from the 2015 investigation. Amidst this confusion, no entity embraced this responsibility. One veteran player, recounting her years of experience in the NWSL, explained, You didn't have HR in place or anyone running the show [at the NWSL] there was no structure in place, there was nothing that said what the line was or when lines were crossed, or if something happened, where you would go to report things." The Joint Investigative Team encouraged players and other witnesses to share their experiences in the manner they found most comfortable. Some of the club policies stated that managers who receive complaints should elevate those complaints to the club HR department, but they mentioned nothing of the requirement that the NWSL HR Office be notified. On one occasion, Dames called her into his office in the presence of his two assistant coaches and said that the two assistant coaches had told him she "had a really bad attitude" and was a bad teammate. At the club level, U.S. Soccer's failure to share its findings allowed Whisler to take the position that U.S. Soccer essentially had cleared Dames of wrongdoing and that no action was required by the Red Stars. Following the revelations of Riley's sexual misconduct on Sept. 30, 2021, the NWSL and the NWSLPA separately sought to conduct investigations. It's across the sport. The NWSL and NWSLPA ultimately directed Covington and Weil to jointly conduct an independent, thorough, and objective investigation, to be led by Covington, under the direction of a newlyformed Oversight Committee. The NWSL should develop clear rules and guidelines addressing appropriate interactions between club staff and players to help ensure that individuals throughout the League understand and maintain appropriate boundaries that promote player safety and well-being. Over a year later, in September 2019, the law firm retained by U.S. Soccer completed its investigative steps and produced a draft report to U.S. Soccer (the "USSF Dames Report"). For instance, Farrelly began dating one of her teammates on the Thorns during the 2014 NWSL season. In text messages, LaHue also expressed an emotional reliance on the player and repeatedly questioned the player's interactions with another individual, stating in one message, [Y]ou knew I'd be mad about you talking to [her] so long. Riley admitted in 2015 that he deleted Shim's email without showing it to anyone in a higher position of authority at the Thorns or the NWSL. Ahead of the first game of the trip, Clarkson questioned whether a player was hungover from an outing the previous night, despite his medical staff informing him that they thought she was experiencing altitude sickness (Mexico City is 7,300 feet above sea level). Clubs have also at times failed to share critical information about certain applicants with other clubs, which resulted in clubs hiring coaches accused of misconduct without sufficient information about the allegations. 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. It then describes the Joint Investigative Team's observations and findings based on specific incidents and evidence obtained during the investigation, and summarizes findings of misconduct relating to key individuals and entities. A. I. On the international stage, the United States has been a powerhouse of women's soccer. A player who participated in the USSF Dames Investigation told the investigator about an instance in which Dames kept her from visiting her parents. Nor do I have any independent recollection of who, if anyone, at the USSF reviewed these surveys, if the USSF had any policy or practice regarding who must review them, what follow-up actions should be taken in response to the surveys, and/or what information was shared with the NWSL teams." Through these interviews, the Joint Investigative Team gathered evidence from players in every active and former NWSL club. The investigations into allegations of misconduct-and the NWSL's awareness of and involvement in such investigations have been inconsistent and have not always followed best practices. One person who works with players in the League mentioned that she had seen text messages to other players from coaches that engaged in such emotional manipulation. This assessment of players' many other concerns underplayed the fact that players had raised several corroborated concerns and that the investigator had identified some of these concerns as requiring remediation. Another player reported to the Joint Investigative Team that she was traded from the Red Stars shortly after she raised a complaint to the NWSL about Dames; the player expressed concern that her complaint played a role in her departure from the team. F. Report: Former OL Reign Coach Farid Benstiti Subject of Verbal Abuse He told the player that the club had provided Benstiti the opportunity to resign as "the most immediate and least risky path" to removing him from the club. The overlap of the two reports also proved problematic in some cases. During this conversation, he asked Holly, "How would you like to handle that?" The report points out issues within the NWSLs infrastructure, including a historical lack of background check procedures for potential coach and front-office hires. Alyse LaHue made unwanted sexual advances toward a player. Flynn did not recall sharing the details noted by Johnson; he only recalled telling Johnson to speak with individuals at the Thorns and to other club owners regarding Riley because others would know the results of the 2015 investigation. The Thorns did not provide the Flash with a copy of the investigative report. Several players raised concerns about Riley encouraging players to drink to excess. 24, film sessions at his apartment with Shim, had dinner alone with Shim one night, sent inappropriate text messages to Shim, and deleted Shim's July email to him stating Riley's conduct was inappropriate without notifying his superiors about the email. Facilitate Information Sharing Among Clubs Regarding Findings of Misconduct Levine did not report Riley to SafeSport between its creation in 2017 and the publication of the Athletic article. Gorden said that she and her boyfriend were racially profiled, prompting a league investigation at the time. One player, describing Riley's fixation with players' weight, stated that he was "100% the most controlling person I've ever met. Another player recalled that he deployed a strategy of "breaking down [a player's] confidence, saying she doesn't look fit," and then when he needed her, "building her confidence back up and controlling her in that way." The Joint Investigative Team requested an interview of Angie and Chris Long, and Angie Long sat for an interview. The Flash announced Riley as their head coach in February 2016. Using language drafted in part by Levine, Baird exchanged a few emails with Shim, and during one such exchange, Shim emphasized that given the League's inaction" in response to her 2015 complaint, she was concerned for current players; she requested confirmation that "these issues will be investigated and that appropriate corrective action will be taken to ensure that abusers are not permitted to coach in the NWSL." He stated that the club sought to address Simon's concerns through the severance agreement, including by securing Holly's removal from his apartment in a complex shared by Simon and requiring that Holly not disparage players or the club. When Farid Benstiti was hired by OL Reign, he was explicitly instructed not to discuss weight or nutrition with players. New subjects include details on why former Gotham FC general manager Alyse LaHue was fired in July of last year. 37, harshly criticized Kurtz's weight. The report did not make any recommendations, noting instead that recommended actions for the Thorns to take would be determined by Paulson and Wilkinson. 100 Another player who participated in the USSF Dames Investigation told the investigator that Dames once interfered with her plans to visit her boyfriend on an away trip. Mishandling of Rory Dames's Misconduct by U.S. Soccer, the NWSL, and the Chicago Red Stars 75, Benstiti saying that he would replicate his "very strict monitoring and measuring [of Horan's] weight and what she's eating" with the club's players. The results of all background checks should be shared with the League office and copies maintained for at least five years, subject to any applicable legal restrictions. Given the scope of the Joint Investigative Team's work, the Team considered it appropriate to evaluate historical misconduct under the 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy, which reflects the NWSL's current approach to these issues. C. The complainant explained that one night, Riley told two players that the team would not have to do fitness drills if they kissed. This player said that on another occasion, she did not really" want to visit Riley's Long Island home but "felt pressure to go." When the team arrived in Chicago, Dames "gave the team the entire weekend off." Clubs Moved Coaches Accused of Misconduct to Other Roles Institutions meant to investigate and address misconduct failed to do so effectively. Simon described Pearce Rampone as a close friend, and Simon said both Pearce Rampone and Holly were mentors to her "in soccer." That message resonated with Alyse LaHue, the interim general manager of Sky Blue FC and former GM of the Chicago Red Stars. As described in detail below, the Joint Investigative Team contacted and interviewed stakeholders representing a variety of perspectives, including current and former players, coaches and other club staff, NWSL employees and officials, U.S. Soccer officials, NWSLPA and U.S. Women's National Team Players Association (USWNTPA) leadership, and other members of the professional soccer community. This left players "confused about what [Riley] wanted from them," and whether the trip was "training or vacation." It's a vicious cycle." Two players expressed the concern that speaking out about issues of race could jeopardize a player's According to the report: "While the NWSL investigation [of the 2021 incident with Gorden] was ongoing, Dash Head Coach James Clarkson -- during a team meeting prior to completion of the investigation -- wrote phone numbers for stadium security on a board and asked players to call and apologize for their conduct." Enhance Reporting and Investigation Procedures. Wahlke received copies of the investigator's interview notes and offered input to the investigator on how the investigation should proceed. Players were asked to rate on a scale of one to five their satisfaction with: (i) facilities; (ii) technical staff knowledge and skill; (iii) logistics and accommodations; (iv) club organization; and (v) overall experience as a member of their NWSL teams. Develop and Enforce Guidelines Addressing Appropriate Interactions Between Club Staff and Players. 6. Baird suggested to Levine that they should set up a call with Farrelly, but Levine stated that they should email Farrelly first. a) Riley's Misconduct at the Portland Thorns It can be argued that Alyse LaHue, general manager of the soccer team formerly known as Sky Blue FC, was herself the rebrand that became official this . Kurtz was not the only player to share her experiences with Courage management after the Athletic article was published. One of the players interviewed by Garcia by telephone told the Joint Investigative Team that her conversation with Garcia involved general questions, and she was given no indication that the conversation was part of an investigation. U.S. Soccer, the League, and individual clubs were not clear on which entity held the ultimate responsibility for establishing and enforcing policies and practices relating to misconduct, or thoroughly investigating complaints and allegations of misconduct. Wilkinson said that he informed Riley this could not occur again, and he separately told Thorns staff members that they could not go out drinking with players. 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. In response, the owner pointed out that the player was one of the highest-paid players in the League and discussed how club expenses came out of his own pocket. By the end of the 2021 season, multiple players who had participated in the meeting were traded, waived, or not re-signed. . For example, one player recalled reaching out to an owner regarding a housing stipend that clubs could provide to players. The NWSLPA encouraged and facilitated participation by a significant number of players, past and present. One NWSLPA member expressed the need for training on the Anti-Harassment Policy. Burke generally denied being verbally abusive, but acknowledged repeated examples of using demeaning and belittling language. C. In May or June 2020, shortly after the murder of George Floyd, Burke made a comment-when players were kneeling for a photo to show solidarity for the Black Lives Matter movement-about how it would look if someone took a photo while he knelt on a practice dummy and "flipped off" the camera.
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