Soccer in the United States is fucking rotten to its core.
Monday, a report compiled by former acting attorney general Sally Yates revealed systemic abuse and institutional failures within US Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League.
“Abuse in the NWSL is rooted in a deeper culture in women’s soccer, beginning in youth leagues, that normalizes verbally abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players,” Yates wrote in her report on the investigation.
Calls for an initial investigation into women’s soccer in the United States started following reports by the Athletic revealing sexual harassment and coercion by former Portland Thorns manager Paul Riley. Eventually, interviews with over 200 individuals and a 173-page report detailing the investigation into Riley led to a Washington Post report on former Chicago Red Stars manager Rory Dames revealing alleged grooming and more misconduct.
However, these sickening details and failures of US Soccer and the NWSL to protect their players didn’t end with Riley and Dames. Today’s revelations uncovered sexual misconduct against former Racing Louisville manager Christy Holly who was fired by the Club in 2021 for cause.
However, when Holly was fired was Racing Louisville last year it wasn’t never clear why that is until today’s report.
According to Yates, Holly sexually coerced one of his players at the time, Erin Simon — in one instance inviting her over to his place to “watch game film”. However, instead of watching game film, the report states that Holly proceeded to show pornography instead while proceeding to masturbate in front of Simon. Furthermore, Holly also reportedly sent sexually explicit messages and photos to Simon and in another instance groped her genitals every time she made a bad play on film.
Holly also reportedly engaged in bullying tactics against players and allegedly “overruled trainers and improperly interfered in medical and treatment decisions” as described below. Also mentioned was this all being reported to executive vice president of Soccer Holdings James O’Connor.
Front office knowledge amongst teams and the Federation itself also contributed to harvesting a system that enabled such behavior to continue for years.
“Teams, the league, and the federation not only repeatedly failed to respond appropriately when confronted with player reports and evidence of abuse, but they also failed to institute basic measures to prevent and address it, even as some leaders privately acknowledged the need for workplace protections,” the report reads.
Furthermore, the likes of Riley, Dames, and Holly even seemed to have their reputations protected by the same system that cultivated and enabled their predatory abusive behavior. In Holly’s case, Racing Louisville seemingly tried to hide behind an NDA as a way to brush aside from having to address the situation with Holly publicly.
So what is the move for US Soccer from here?
It’s unclear and quite frankly the Federation surely hasn’t earned the trust of the players or fans.
Meanwhile, US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone released the typical, tepid statement you could only expect.
The investigation meanwhile has called for greater transparency on coaching hires and dismissals, including the elimination of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). It has also proposed the implementation of player safety officers who’ll undertake the responsibility of submitting reports on player safety and protocols.
However, it seems like the best and most obvious practice US Soccer, the NWSL, and various amateur leagues around the country can begin to do is listen to their players, starting now.