United States captain Becky Sauerbrunn on abuse in NWSL: "Every owner and executive and US Soccer official who has repeatedly failed the players, failed to protect the players, hidden behind legalities and not participated in these investigations should be gone"
Wednesday 5 October 2022 15:35, UK
United States captain Becky Sauerbrunn has called for the removal of individuals at the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and US Soccer who failed to protect players from abuse after an inquiry found widespread misconduct in the professional league.
US Soccer brought in former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and King & Spalding LLP a year ago to conduct an independent investigation after a report in The Athletic outlined allegations of abuse in the NWSL, prompting a reckoning across the league.
The results of the Yates report, released on Monday, said abuse and sexual misconduct spanned multiple teams and coaches, and that the NWSL and US Soccer failed to put in "basic measures" to safeguard players or "respond appropriately when confronted with player reports and evidence of abuse".
US Soccer said it would move swiftly to implement reforms. The NWSL said it would immediately review the findings of the inquiry.
"I think for so long this has fallen on the players to demand change," said Sauerbrunn, speaking to reporters from London, where the US are due to play European champions England in a friendly on Friday.
"That is because the people in authority and decision-making positions have repeatedly failed to protect us and they have failed to hold themselves and each other accountable. Who are you actually protecting and what values are you upholding? You have failed in your stewardship.
"Every owner and executive and US Soccer official who has repeatedly failed the players, failed to protect the players, hidden behind legalities and not participated in these investigations should be gone.
"At the bare minimum, the recommendations that are in the Sally Yates report should be immediately implemented by US Soccer and by the league."
Friday's match was expected to be a joyous occasion for the four-time world champions, as they face England in front of a sold-out crowd at Wembley Stadium.
Instead, the US players are putting on the jersey for a federation that failed to provide basic protection from abuse for players in the top-flight American professional league for years, according to the Yates report.
"The players are not doing well. We are horrified and heartbroken and frustrated and exhausted and really, really angry. We are angry that it took a third-party investigation," said Sauerbrunn.
Alana Cook, who plays for OL Reign, added: "I think we have such a momentous occasion on Friday, playing at a sold-out Wembley Stadium, and it's marred by this report and it's marred by the atrocities that have been condoned and tolerated and allowed to go on."
After Wembley, the US travel to Pamplona to play Spain, a team embroiled in controversy of their own after the Spanish FA (RFEF) issued a statement last month that it received 15 emails from players saying their relationship with their coach was affecting their emotional state.
Moments before Sauerbrunn met the media, Merritt Paulson, the owner and CEO of the Portland Thorns, said he would remove himself from "Thorns-related decision making" until a joint investigation between the NWSL and National Women's Soccer League Players Association (NWSLPA) is released.
The Yates report said the Thorns organisation interfered with access to witnesses and "raised specious legal arguments in an attempt to impede our use of relevant documents".
The report also said the club failed to make public accusations of abuse against a coach after terminating his contract in 2015 and that US Soccer and the NWSL did not stop him from coaching elsewhere despite being aware of the claims.
"Yesterday's Yates report unveiling was the darkest day I have experienced," Paulson said in a statement. "I would imagine that it was even harder and darker for those whose stories were shared publicly."
Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler, whom ignored complaints about inappropriate actions from coach Rory Dames last year, also stepped away from his role leading the team on Tuesday. Dames ultimately resigned last November.
Whisler wrote in a statement: "Our organization is committed to rebuilding trust and respect among players and staff towards our league and club, and I recognize that my current presence is a distraction. I do not want to take any of the attention away from the players' incredible and well earned playoff run.
"So in the interest of the club and the players, and fans we serve, effective immediately, I will remove myself from my governance role within the NWSL board of governors and will hand over operational control of the club to our executive team in Chicago."
England international Rachel Daly said the women's football community "stand in solidarity with the players".
"I was saddened to see it [the report]. Coming off the training pitch to that news, it is heart-breaking and it was sickening," the Aston Villa player told Sky Sports.
"I could use many words to describe how I felt about that but those really jump to mind.
"It's absolutely terrifying that girls are still going through this and that people are abusing power.
"For us as females, it is a very dangerous place to be when things like that happen and all I can do and say is that the rest of the women's football community stand in solidarity with the girls that have been affected.
"For me personally, I'm very proud of them to come out and openly have a safe space to speak about these things. They should never have to speak about these things because they should never go through these things, and it is disgusting.
"But the NWSLPA have done a fantastic job there. They are a brilliant group of women and players and behind the scenes they work tirelessly to make a safe space for everybody to speak about things.
"My heart is with them and hope that finally these things can be put to an end."
Daly's England team-mate Lucy Bronze, who honed her skills in the US college system, says eliminating abusive behaviour and sexual misconduct is "top of the list" of changes required in women's sport.
"Women's sport in general tends to have these issues and I think they probably have been going on for a long time, but people have never been brave enough to speak out," said Bronze.
"So it's not necessarily a new thing. The new thing is that we're finally fighting back against it.
"It's obviously very sad to read these stories. I'm very fortunate to have had a career where I've not had any of these problems.
"I've never looked back and thought, 'that was a bit funny'. I'd like to think that a lot of my team-mates are fortunate enough to say that as well.
"We've said for a long time, a lot of things need to change in women's sport and this is top of the list to change.
"It's not just women's football that has horrible abusive stories and allegations that happen - there are many women's sports where it's happened and we support all the females that come out and speak."
