Investigation finds 'systemic abuse' in US women's professional soccer

An independent investigation has revealed "systemic abuse and misconduct" in women's professional soccer in the United States.

USA Soccer on Monday released the findings of the year-long investigation, led by former Assistant Attorney General Sally Q. Yates, after more than 200 interviews.

The report states that in the nearly 10-year history of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), "numerous coaches have verbally or emotionally abused female players."

He also found that "several are suspected of having committed serious sexual misconduct during and/or before their time in the League".

The report said: "Our investigation revealed a league in which abuse and misconduct – verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct – had become systemic, spanning multiple teams, coaches and victims.

"Abuse in the NWSL is rooted in a deeper culture of women's football, starting with the youth leagues, which normalizes verbally abusive training and blurs the lines between coaches and players."

He also concluded, "Teams, the League and the [U.S. Soccer] Federation not only repeatedly failed to respond appropriately when confronted with player reports and evidence of abuses, but it also failed to institute basic measures to prevent and address them, even though some leaders have privately acknowledged the need for workplace protections."

USA Football has pledged to “act to comprehensively address the recommendations of the report”.

One of the actions the governing body will take in response to the report will be to launch a new player-focused Participant Safety Task Force, which will bring together leaders from all levels of the sport to "ensure a safe and respectful playing environment for all athletes". ”.

United States Football President Cindy Parlow Cone said: "As a former player, as a coach, as the chairwoman of the national governing body of football, I have a heart broken by the content of the report, which clearly indicates that systemic changes are needed at all levels of our game. .

“The abuses described in the report are completely inexcusable and have no place in football, on or off the field. Like everyone at U.S. Soccer, I am focused on the changes we will make to address report findings and make football safer for everyone. It will take all members of U.S. Soccer working together to create the kind of change needed to keep our athletes safe.

"The severity of these issues compels us not to simply 'move the page'. We can and must use this moment as a force function to move forward. Since becoming President of U.S. Soccer in 2020, my priority is first and foremost to ensure that athletes across the country have a safe and respectful place to play, work, learn, grow and compete."