Hope Soloโs post game tirade in the wake of being eliminated by Sweden has cost her โbiglyโ as Donald Trump would say.
U.S. Soccer has made the decision to suspend the USWNT goalkeeper for six months following comments she made towards Sweden calling them โcowardsโ and that the โbetter team did not win todayโ.
Hereโs U.S. Soccerโs statement on the suspension:
U.S. Soccer has suspended goalkeeper Hope Solo from the U.S. Womenโs National Team for six months for conduct that is counter to the organizationโs principles.
The suspension for Solo, who was previously suspended for 30 days early in 2015 for her conduct, is effective immediately.
โThe comments by Hope Solo after the match against Sweden during the 2016 Olympics were unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we require from our National Team players,โ said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. โBeyond the athletic arena, and beyond the results, the Olympics celebrate and represent the ideals of fair play and respect. We expect all of our representatives to honor those principles, with no exceptions.
โTaking into consideration the past incidents involving Hope, as well as the private conversations weโve had requiring her to conduct herself in a manner befitting a U.S. National Team member, U.S. Soccer determined this is the appropriate disciplinary action.โ
As a result of the suspension, Solo would not be eligible for selection to the U.S. Womenโs National Team until February of 2017.
But U.S. Soccer wasnโt done dropping nukes on Solo. In addition to the suspension, the organization will also terminate Soloโs contract following the six month ban.
US Soccer has also terminated Hope Solo's national team contract.
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Solo of course wasnโt pleased with the announcement.
Hope Solo's response to SI on her suspension. pic.twitter.com/Y5E5KcrECo
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The USWNT Players association also wasnโt thrilled with the decision. In any case it sounds like this may get pretty messy.
Hope Solo's response to SI on her suspension. pic.twitter.com/Y5E5KcrECo
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This is especially troubling for Solo since the termination very well may affect her contract with the Seattle Reign of the NWSL. Right now Solo is currently making $56,000 with the Reign however that money is paid out by U.S. Soccer. Presumably sheโll still get away with roughly $36,000 of the deal, if it is in fact true she loses her Reign contract as well.
When it comes to that USWNT deal, Solo was set to make $72,000 as a tier-one player.
Patrick Redford of Deadspin points out this move may very well have been done to rid the team of Solo given the USWNT wonโt play another major tournament until 2019. When that comes around Solo will be 38 and younger options will certainly be available.
Despite Soloโs past, the announcement is a bit shady on U.S. Soccerโs part when you consider she made these comments last week and theyโre just making the announcement now. Did U.S. Soccer buckle under the social media pressure?
It certainly sounds like it.
Then again this isnโt the first time Solo has embarrassed the organization as a whole with her off the field antics. Either way Solo will appeal citing a violation of her first amendment rights.
