He led NWSL from 2015 to 2017 and although Plush was aware of allegations of sexual abuse against Riley, he did not step in to prevent Riley from continuing to coach in the league. It also notes that Jeff Plush, the former commissioner of the NWSL, "never responded" to investigators. The Thorns tried to prevent Yates' reps from accessing the club's 2015 investigation into Riley, citing "attorney-client privilege," the report adds, "despite all evidence to the contrary." Meanwhile, the Chicago Red Stars "unnecessarily delayed the production of relevant documents over the course of nearly nine months." The Portland Thorns "interfered with our access to relevant witnesses and raised specious legal arguments in an attempt to impede our use of relevant documents," the report says. ![]() Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.) The report says some teams and individuals did not fully cooperate, despite public statements claiming otherwise.Īccording to the investigators, Racing Louisville "refused to produce documents concerning Christy Holly and would not permit witnesses (even former employees) to answer relevant questions regarding Holly's tenure, citing non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements it signed with Holly." These agreements, the report adds, meant that "Holly's misconduct has remained largely unknown, including to anyone who might seek to employ him as a coach." Soccer cited her "extensive experience conducting complex and highly sensitive investigations" and the "three decades in public service at the Department of Justice under both Republican and Democratic administrations."ĭid everyone cooperate with the investigators? attorney general and briefly as acting U.S. Yates, who specializes in internal and independent investigations, has experience as a federal prosecutor, also serving as the deputy U.S. Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Soccer, found system issues within NWSL that must now be addressed in order to prevent future issues of player safety. Riley's firing last year was one of five other dismissals of coaches in the league for allegations of abuse. Soccer announced it had retained Yates "to lead an independent investigation into allegations of abusive behavior and sexual misconduct in women's professional soccer." The federation added that Yates "will be given full autonomy, access and the necessary resources to follow the facts and evidence wherever they may lead." He was also accused of sexual relationships with players. On one occasion, he allegedly told the players to kiss each other to get out of training drills, and in another, he greeted a player for a game film review session in his underwear before the player quickly left. Two former Thorns players interviewed on the record recalled that Riley verbally abused and disparaged them, sent them lewd photos, gave them alcohol and sexually harassed them. Soccer hired Yates to investigate after a report last year in The Athletic detailed that Riley had been fired by the Portland Thorns in 2015 for misconduct, but the Portland Thorns and the league kept the manner of his exit hidden from the public, allowing Riley to quickly be hired by another NWSL team. Why was this investigation commissioned, and why was Yates chosen to lead it? ![]() Here are the bigger questions around the contents of the report. "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." "Our investigation has revealed a league in which abuse and misconduct - verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct - had become systemic, spanning multiple teams, coaches, and victims," the summary of the investigation's findings says. USSF president calls report 'first step' towards change USSF report finds systemic abuse in NWSL Soccer officials and others to heed warnings and complaints from players about them. ![]() It sheds new light on the alleged misconduct by these three coaches, as well as the repeated failures by team owners, U.S. The report's findings focus heavily on three coaches in the National Women's Soccer League who have been accused of serious sexual misconduct and abuse: former Racing Louisville coach Christy Holly, former Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley and former Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames. deputy attorney general Sally Yates was released Monday, and it includes revelations that are sure to send shockwaves throughout women's soccer and raise tough questions about accountability and player safety. Soccer Federation and conducted by former U.S. An investigation commissioned by the U.S.
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