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The club fired Harrington on November 9, 2020. Riley stepped away to use the restroom, and Farrelly and Shim discussed leaving. Multiple players and club staff interviewed by the Joint Investigative Team also expressed distrust of the League, concerns about confidentiality, and fear of retaliation for participating in the investigation. In 2018, former Red Stars player Christen Press made a complaint about Chicago Red Stars Head Coach Rory Dames to U.S. Soccer, alleging that he engaged in verbal and emotional abuse. After his hire, OL Reign CEO Bill Predmore told Benstiti he was not allowed to discuss diet or weight with players. That committee included: NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman; NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke; WNBPA executive director Terri Jackson (selected by the NWSLPA); Goop, Inc. general counsel and chief people officer Djenaba Parker (selected by the NWSL) and former United States District Judge Barbara S. Jones, who was deemed an independent member. a) Reports of Misconduct in Survey Comments Baird then-again based on a response Levine had drafted-responded to Farrelly with an email similar to the one she had sent Shim, stating that the initial complaint in 2015 had been investigated to conclusion" and that she could not "share any additional details." That same day, NWSL General Counsel Lisa Levine also resigned. Levine suggested in a February 2016 email that she would prepare letters to Riley and to the owner of the Flash reminding them that coaches must remain professional, but the Joint Investigative Team did not find evidence that any such letters were written or sent. During the 2017 season, Simon recalled players learning that Holly had been dating another player, Christie Pearce Rampone. In addition to their many concerns about Dames, players told U.S. Soccer's investigator they felt the club's owner, Arnim Whisler, was insensitive and unresponsive to their concerns about Dames." She recalled hearing Riley make negative "comments about players who [had] made the national team and then stopped doing favors for him. With regards to Dames's treatment of players, one player recalled, "It wasn't like, 'Hey, bad pass.' Dec 15, 2022, 07:04 AM EST. C. Some players reported that living in such close proximity to club staff, including their coaches, made them feel uncomfortable and contributed to a lack of boundaries between the personal lives of the players and club staff. During that interview, she explained that she was more involved in on-the-field issues and that Chris Long was more involved in sponsorship and other business issues. A player who said that she liked Dames acknowledged that he would not make the blunt crazy comments" to her that he made to others. Plush also said he spoke to Lines and Alex Sahlen in January 2016, encouraging them to look elsewhere for a new coach." Trainings should be streamlined and consistent, and should be mandatory for League staff, club staff, volunteers who regularly interact with players, and players across all clubs. . However, she noted that she had asked a female staff member for help, and that when this staff member came over to help, Harrington "was also there." Wilkins, Estes, O'Connor, and outside legal counsel met with Holly later that day and terminated his employment. Some clubs, including Sky Blue, the Current, the Courage, the Spirit, and the Red Stars, had staff who were nominally in charge of HR overall, but who in practice focused only on handling payroll and other logistics issues. soccer career. . The NWSL should increase transparency regarding the outcomes of investigations and the NWSL's investigation processes generally. Paulson's and Wilkinson's accounts of the information shared with the Flash are inconsistent with a document the Flash prepared for the Joint Investigative Team's review summarizing the club's vetting and hiring of Riley. Although U.S. Soccer and League leadership at various points discussed and explored the creation of conduct policies, none were ever adopted or implemented. 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. And Levine, in spite of having been kept apprised of the Thorns's investigation in 2015 and having read the investigative report, did not take Shim's and Farrelly's 2021 complaints to the NWSL regarding Riley seriously; in fact, Levine drafted responses on which Baird-who had no prior familiarity with the 2015 investigation-relied to respond to Shim and Farrelly and essentially decline to inquire into Riley further. In fact, an attorney from the law firm retained by the Thorns informed Levine that there were suggestions in [Shims] interview [with Garcia] that Paul Riley's relationship [with Farrelly] was more extensive than [Shim's]/Riley's." The Joint Investigative Team also took into account whether conduct complied with professional coaching standards. The League and Clubs Failed to Take Adequate Steps to Protect Players in Hiring and Filling Positions A different player explained that "a lot of coaches . A few days after Farrelly's complaint to the NWSL, on May 3, 2021, an anonymous complainant emailed the NWSL Office and NWSL HR Office email accounts to report sexual harassment by Riley against Thorns players during Riley's time with the Thorns. F. Christy Holly's Sexual Misconduct and Abuse 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 Womens Soccer League and the NWSL Players Association on Wednesday. Hendrix also recalled that Holly sent Simon a picture of his penis. Some players and staff (other than Cromwell and Greene) were left with the incorrect understanding that none of the allegations had been substantiated, that no remedial actions were taken to address Cromwell's and Greene's behavior, and that the club was standing by the coaches. Clarkson was suspended in April amid an ongoing investigation, but until Wednesday, no reasons were provided publicly. The 29-player list Access the best womens soccer coverage all year long. The NWSL should contact an applicant's former employers and, where feasible, former colleagues. In the fall of 2021, the Joint Investigative Team asked clubs to produce their antiharassment policies, and this Report analyzes the policies received from that request, some of which were implemented only recently. As for the players, there is a hope that with this report finally coming out, all eyes can turn toward the future of the league. The Joint Investigative Team reported regularly to the Oversight Committee on its progress and investigative strategy. This is too much. Plush wrote that he was "very careful in describing the situation" with Riley because he had been informed by counsel to U.S. Soccer that he could not share the Thorns's investigative report or its details. In May 2018, U.S. Soccer's investigator spoke to Press regarding her complaint that Dames "verbally and emotionally abuse[d] . One player recalled wanting to report conduct by her general manager, Alyse LaHue, but said that the team "didn't even know who we could contact because [the general manager] is our only contact. In the fall of 2022, Kurtz decided to share Riley's misconduct with the Joint Investigative Team. Both Williams and Angie Long recalled the club trying to find a trade within the NWSL for one player, but being unable to find a trade partner. 18 episodes. (There have already been consequences since the Yates report, including Merritt Paulson and Arnim Whisler agreeing to sell the Portland Thorns and Chicago Red Stars, respectively.). Key individuals involved in the 2015 Thorns Investigation and Some players said that they only realized that they were in emotionally abusive or manipulative environments after the fact. Misconduct in the League is not wholly independent from abuse that begins in youth soccer, where many coaches and players formative experiences shaped the way they engaged in, or reacted to, misconduct and abuse in the NWSL.. In the months that followed, U.S. Soccer's investigator spoke to other players, who reported concerns about Dames's behavior that corroborated the two formal complaints about Dames. The article also noted Horan's observation that Benstiti's insistence on weight loss was "more [about] how you were seen and not how it was helping you play. An April 2019 Adidas commercial focused on Horan overcoming her negative experience with Benstiti. 10 The club had asked the NWSL to run a standard background check on this potential hire but did not request a reputational check. Plush eventually resigned as CEO of USA Curling nearly a month after the Yates report detailed his inaction and culpability in allowing Riley to continue coaching in the NWSL following Riley's 2015 sexual misconduct in Portland. It was previously reported, although never officially communicated by the league or club, that LaHue was fired for violation of the league's anti-harassment policy. The new report expands on many of those topics, though only relating specifically to occurrences in the NWSL era. In addition to background checks, the NWSL should conduct reference checks for all prospective owners, coachesincluding volunteer coachesand club staff who may interact with players. Before the season, Holly invited Simon to his home on two occasions to watch film, telling her that Pearce Rampone would be there. 87, When the NWSL distributed its Anti-Harassment Policy in April 2021, it was not accompanied by any training. When one Spirit player tackled a teammate during practice, Burke went off out of nowhere," calling the player a "fucking asshole" and a cheat." Gulati, who said he had never received the 2015 investigative report, said that although he could not remember clearly, he surmised that he was given legal advice by Levine not to disclose or discuss information regarding the allegations and investigation by the Thorns. This may require removing some questions that were included in prior player surveys that could be used to identify responding players, including questions about previous teams, pay, and nationality. Multiple witnesses reported that Riley criticized Sinead Farrelly's romantic relationships, stated that Farrelly was "too hot to be a lesbian," and said that Farrelly's then-partner was a "predator." Although the Thorns conducted an investigation in 2015 that led to Riley's termination, the Thorns publicly announced only that Riley was not being retained, with no explanation as to why. The NWSL should emphasize that this program is not a substitute for reporting channels provided in the Anti-Harassment Policy and should not encourage players or staff to address potential misconduct under the Anti-Harassment Policy through the Alternative Complaint Resolution program. Holly declined requests to be interviewed in this investigation. The reasons for his departure were not shared publicly. 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. In December 2013, Whisler emailed Cheryl Bailey that he had "sat with [a player] and addressed" her concerns about Dames; he then speculated, "Whatever the [player's] story is now it is window dressing likely because she wants more money." However, Riley's misconduct at the Courage extended beyond inappropriate comments about weight. The agreement provided that if Holly or the club breached the non-disparagement clause, the other party would be entitled to a payment of $5,000. 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." According to the USSF Dames Report, one player said that Dames "was constantly putting her down, diminishing her self-worth, and making it clear he had the power and control and she did not." One player who spoke up at the meeting and was subsequently traded shared that because she and other players spoke up, "[w]e all knew we were going to be traded." You had no job security, a player explained. Paulson told the Joint Investigative Team he thought it would be important to Malik that, from Paulson's perspective, the Thorns accurately announced that Riley's contract would expire at the end of the 2015 season. Multiple players said that they felt they could not decline social invitations from coaches. A player recalled that she and her teammates were not sure whether to provide negative feedback about coaches in anonymous player surveys because they were doubtful that their comments would be taken seriously. Over time, players' lack of trust in Holly led to a divide between Holly, Pearce Rampone, and the majority of the team. E. Reports of Misconduct in 2020 and 2021 Players reported Williams apologized to the team the day after the meeting, but players felt the club did not take action to address players' concerns after the meeting. Courage President Curt Johnson explained that during this vetting period, Flynn told Johnson some of the details of Riley's 2015 misconduct towards Shim and Farrelly, but described the incident as "a moment of poor judgment." Gulati acknowledged that he had read the memorandum in advance of a meeting with players, including Press, on September 17, 2014, but said that he did not remember any specifics about the meeting, including whether Dames's conduct was discussed. Dames declined requests to be interviewed in this investigation. Simon shoved Holly's hands away, and in response, she felt that Holly looked at her like it was a "challenge." Historically, clubs have not always conducted background checks on coaches and other club staff before hiring them. 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."" I think most people that get an MBA then try to go on and get a nice . Require Separate Housing Accommodations for Players and Club Staff Farrelly asked what steps the NWSL intended to take in connection with inappropriate conduct that was initially reported" and offered to make herself available for an interview. Sexual misconduct, as used in this Report, is a broad term intended to encompass a range of conduct, including conduct that could be described as sexual assault, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment. Each individual was invited to speak with the Joint Investigative Team. D. When the player was emotional after the game, Burke reportedly continued to yell at her and called her "selfish." "The club has a tremendous history and. Yael Averbuch West was a Jewish soccer star and player advocate. As a d) Lack of Transparency with the Courage Regarding Riley Riley declined to respond to requests to participate in this investigation. 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. . Women's Soccer Bans Ex-Coaches and Fines Teams After Misconduct Report On a different occasion, Dames called Stanton into his office and told her she was playing poorly. Christy Holly engaged in sexual misconduct and made inappropriate sexual comments to players. Can the USWNT's World Cup title push the NWSL to a long-awaited The league and the union issued a lengthy statement with the reports release, including a list of concrete steps that either have been taken or will be taken before the 2023 season starts. Holly also crossed boundaries with other players by making unwanted sexual advances and overt sexual remarks to them. Levine's email contained no context or explanation for why she was forwarding the report. These measures may help increase diversity in the NWSL coaching ranks. For example, one staff member recalled hearing Holly call a Sky Blue player "lazy" and "dumb." And we have to do something about it." 16, the League come with the mentality of doing you a favor." The agreement prohibited the club from disclosing Holly's sexual misconduct, including to law enforcement, unless compelled by law. 107, defames, or is derogatory of the other. Citing the non-disparagement provision in the agreement, the club and its executives declined to speak freely with the Joint Investigative Team about Holly until the fourth quarter of 2022, significantly delaying this aspect of the The Thorns did not provide the Flash with a copy of the investigative report. Eventually, she reported the staff member to her coach because she felt that the staff member was "crossing the line and making [her] uncomfortable." Decisions regarding the disclosure of sexual misconduct are complex and involve numerous considerations, including player confidentiality and safety. For example, the Courage re-signed Jaelene Daniels in 2021, after her brief retirement. Former Sky Blue President and General Manager Tony Novo told the Joint Investigative Team that Holly was "let go" from Sky Blue in 2017. Many players, team and league staff, and team owners were not given the completed report before it was made public. 88, U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro characterized U.S. Soccer's relationship with the League as a "regulator and sanctioning body." Additionally, 15 current and former NWSL staff members engaged in interviews or provided documents, as did 11 current and former U.S. Soccer staffers. e) The USSF Dames Investigation's Conclusions The League and clubs should post easily-identifiable links to online reporting channels on websites where current and former players are likely to see them. A technicality but a distinction. Paulson told the Joint Investigative Team that prior to sending this message, he had told Malik over the phone that the Thorns had fired Riley based on Shim's complaint. Two players described Dames's mood shifts as "a cycle of abuse." Clarkson and Cromwell would be allowed to return to the league upon completing anti-harassment training and demonstrating a commitment to change. Even after repeated requests and lengthy negotiations with the separate law firm U.S. Soccer retained to respond to the Joint Investigative Team's requests, U.S. Soccer did not meaningfully respond to those requests until shortly before, and again after, the USSF Report was released. ), The actions of League and U.S. Soccer personnelfrom the Leagues founding, through its years under U.S. Soccer management, to the presentdemonstrate that misconduct does not announce itself, but requires proactive prevention and detection, the report says. In this video I discussing the details surrounding why former head coach and manager, Alyse LaHue, was fired from Gotham FC.SourceNWSL/NWSLPA Joint Investiga. In 2019, several media outlets, including Yahoo! The Joint Investigative Team understands that the staff member did not remain with the club after members of the NWSL office shared with the club that the coach was known in the soccer community to be abusive. Two players expressed the concern that speaking out about issues of race could jeopardize a player's Players reported that certain coaches expressed disgust towards players' weight. The trainings should remind supervisors of their obligations under the AntiHarassment Policy to report alleged misconduct to the NWSL HR Office or the NWSL General Counsel. I don't think it's common in the sports world to have an MBA. The Joint Investigative Team further found that Goalkeeper Coach Aline Reis did not fully cooperate with the investigation, in violation of NWSL policy, including by pressuring players to share favorable information with investigators. In February 2016, Gulati and Flynn engaged in communications with individuals at the NWSL and U.S. Soccer regarding the Flash's decision to hire Riley that reflected their understanding that the club's hiring of Riley was cause for concern.