Hope Solo‘s post game tirade in the wake of being eliminated by Sweden has cost her ‘bigly’ 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 ‘cowards’ and that the ‘better team did not win today’.
Here’s U.S. Soccer’s statement on the suspension:
U.S. Soccer has suspended goalkeeper Hope Solo from the U.S. Women’s National Team for six months for conduct that is counter to the organization’s principles.
The suspension for Solo, who was previously suspended for 30 days early in 2015 for her conduct, is effective immediately.
“The 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,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “Beyond 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.
“Taking into consideration the past incidents involving Hope, as well as the private conversations we’ve 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.”
As a result of the suspension, Solo would not be eligible for selection to the U.S. Women’s National Team until February of 2017.
But U.S. Soccer wasn’t done dropping nukes on Solo. In addition to the suspension, the organization will also terminate Solo’s contract following the six month ban.
US Soccer has also terminated Hope Solo's national team contract.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) August 25, 2016
Solo of course wasn’t pleased with the announcement.
Hope Solo's response to SI on her suspension. pic.twitter.com/Y5E5KcrECo
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) August 25, 2016
The USWNT Players association also wasn’t 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
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) August 25, 2016
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 she’ll 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 won’t play another major tournament until 2019. When that comes around Solo will be 38 and younger options will certainly be available.
Despite Solo’s past, the announcement is a bit shady on U.S. Soccer’s part when you consider she made these comments last week and they’re just making the announcement now. Did U.S. Soccer buckle under the social media pressure?
It certainly sounds like it.
Then again this isn’t 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.