28, Investigative Team that he surmised that U.S. Soccer and the NWSL received legal advice from Levine that there was nothing they could formally do to stop Riley from coaching elsewhere in the NWSL. b)
Kurtz added that after reading last year about Riley's past sexual misconduct, she realized that the coach was "grooming" her with similar patterns of behavior. First, the Joint Investigative Team found that the 2015 Thorns Investigation was inadequate in key ways. The surveys also asked some open-ended questions and provided space for players to enter comments.
At the same time, certain behaviors that have been normalized as "tough" coaching, such as screaming in players' faces, are slowly but increasingly recognized as inappropriate and abusive. You moron.'
Rather, she said the focus of the interview was on assessing the truth of Shim's allegations and determining whether Farrelly had told anyone about the incident. Paulson also said he had heard that Shim did not want Riley's termination made public, though there is no evidence that Garcia or anyone else on the Thorns asked Shim for her preference, and Shim told the Joint Investigative Team that she did not recall making any such statement. There may be limited circumstances in which it is appropriate for a coach to discuss a player's weight with her as it pertains to that player's fitness goals, but those discussions generally should occur privately, without other players present. That news followed a report from Meg Linehan of The Athletic on Thursday that Paul Riley, who was fired by the North Carolina Courage, had inappropriate sexual relationships with players and made.
But the story had been percolating since June 28, when I reported via Twitter that Alyse LaHue was away from the team. Courage President Curt Johnson explained that during this vetting period, Flynn told Johnson some of the details of Riley's 2015 misconduct towards Shim and Farrelly, but described the incident as "a moment of poor judgment." Why not adjust? U.S. Soccer, the NWSL, and Clubs Failed to Adequately Share Information Regarding Misconduct
An additional reputational check-which would involve additional research into the candidate, including interviews with references and other contacts-is not required, but can be conducted at the club's election. The next day, Riley said, "A deal is a deal," and he did not require the team to run the suicide mile that week. For instance, Farrelly began dating one of her teammates on the Thorns during the 2014 NWSL season. Players and staff at Sky Blue and Racing Louisville credibly reported that Holly was verbally abusive and emotionally volatile. Inconsistencies Between Club Anti-Harassment Policies and the NWSL Anti-Harassment Policy
The joint investigation team noted that all three clubs also "withheld key documents" from them until after the Yates report was released. He said that Kurtz seemed accepting of this news, but she mentioned in passing something about Riley calling her chubby." In the 2015 player survey, several players made negative comments about Flash Head Coach Aaran Lines. Benstiti did not obey this instruction. However, the Joint Investigative Team found no evidence that they, or others at U.S. Soccer, shared information or ensured information was shared with the Flash regarding the 2015 allegations or investigative findings against Riley.
Wilkinson told the Joint Investigative Team he learned of at least one occasion in mid-2015 in which Riley had been drinking socially with players. Multiple current and former players from the Current raised concerns that Williams retaliated against players for participating in the meeting with ownership, both by mistreating players who complained and by taking actions to remove them from the club. 35, conducting thorough fact-finding. Dames also texted a player after a fundraising event they both attended and told her that she looked nice that evening. While the organization cut back its spending in 2002 and 2003, it could not recover financially.
She said, "I was made to feel by U.S. Soccer that I was in the wrong, there was nothing to report, and that this was acceptable." Previously, Alyse spend five years as the GM of the Chicago Red Stars. 1. The Joint Investigative Team distributed this contact information via email to all current and former players for whom the Joint Investigative Team could identify an email address. When appropriate, the Joint Investigative Team interviewed individuals more than once. Mental Health First Aid training tailored toward sport professionals could help players and staff develop the skills to recognize and respond to players navigating mental health challenges. Revise the Anti-Harassment Policy to Define Retaliation More Clearly
The investigation did not focus on player-on-player misconduct or misconduct directed at League or club staff. The relationship was widely known by club management.
Jeff Plush received Shim's September 2015 complaint alleging sexual misconduct by Paul Riley, and he then forwarded the complaint to individuals at U.S. Soccer and discussed it with Merritt Paulson and Gavin Wilkinson. Ultimately, WUSA announced it was folding on September 15, 2003, less than a week before the kickoff of the 2003 World Cup in the United States.
Levine forwarded this email to Plush in September 2015.
In evaluating potential misconduct towards players by those in positions of power, the Joint Investigative Team gathered relevant evidence, made factual findings, and analyzed whether those findings met established definitions of misconduct. Development of an Anti-Harassment Policy
Club policies should state clearly that all club staff are also subject to the NWSL Anti-Harassment Policy, which goes beyond merely prohibiting unlawful harassment. Against this backdrop, some players reported misconduct anonymously through player surveys conducted by the NWSL. The League should encourage all players, including those who are not members of marginalized groups, to take an active role in identifying and calling out misconduct. 78, reasons for the waiver/contract buyout and other proposed waivers, several additional considerations supported the conclusion that retaliation was a motivating factor. The Yahoo! Develop and Enforce a Responsible Drinking Policy Applicable to All NWSL Staff, Club Staff, and Players
On June 28, 2021, a player reported Benstiti's comments to Predmore, who suspended Benstiti from interacting with players the next day. A member of club staff told us the decision was based on a "business perspective," but could not "ascribe any personal feelings" to the decision. One former player recalled that her college goalkeeper coach and assistant coach were both married to former players. Coaching often requires split-second decisions and interactions during practice and games, without the time for deliberation or consultation, for example with HR. The NWSL announced on October 3, 2021, that it had retained Covington to conduct an independent investigation into workplace misconduct within the League and to recommend reforms.
Several players noted that Burke's conduct was very open, including in front of team staff and management, and that numerous players were uncomfortable with his conduct. When asked whether she could have compelled Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler to obey a League instruction not to speak with players in relation to an investigation, former U.S. Soccer and NWSL General Counsel Lisa Levine stated that the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors-of which Whisler was a member at the time-had shown that it was not inclined to act to discipline clubs. These measures may help increase diversity in the NWSL coaching ranks.
Conduct Background Checks on All Prospective Club Owners, Staff, and Volunteers Who May Interact With Players
111, VI. Leadership at the Thorns had knowledge of misconduct by Paul Riley, including his drinking alcohol with players and reported mistreatment of players, even before Mana Shim made a formal complaint in September 2015 of sexual misconduct by Riley. However, that position is inconsistent with other evidence, including an email from counsel for the Thorns and Plush's own prior communications with Sky Blue. Two players said they sought therapy. If [we have] a concern, we're going to sit down and try to find a solution. He also said, If you're trying to build trust, which is what we're trying to do, it's hard to build trust if someone's saying to you, '[I] can't tell you where it's coming from.' II. One player who spoke up at the meeting and was subsequently traded shared that because she and other players spoke up, "[w]e all knew we were going to be traded." The Athletic recounted the experiences of two former players, Mana Shim and Sinead Farrelly, and reported that Riley sexually coerced players, provided alcohol to players and drank excessively with them, and made derogatory comments about players' weight and sexual orientation. The Joint Investigative Team considered the following factors when deciding whether to identify an individual who engaged in misconduct: whether (i) the misconduct was widely reported in major news outlets; (ii) the misconduct was severe; (iii) the misconduct was repeated; and (iv) there is a risk of substantial harm to NWSL players, youth players, or others if the individual is not identified. Garcia was relatively inexperienced in conducting sensitive investigations. No information about the investigation or Riley's termination was made public until the release of the Athletic article on September 30, 2021. Another child, tween, teen and beyond will know the world is better when it's . The club encouraged Simon to consider
Plush told the Joint Investigative Team that the Flash had been considering Riley since October 2015, and Plush warned Lines in October 2015 that the Flash should not hire Riley but should follow up with the Thorns as to why Riley was "no longer coaching there." 2. The Joint Investigative Team reached out to approximately 780 current and former NWSL players regarding the investigation. The League announced that the investigation would include the following:
It was, 'You idiot. Whisler did not recall knowing who raised the complaint and said that he did not think Levine instructed him to refrain from speaking to players during this initial conversation, but she did tell him not to speak to players in a subsequent call to inform him of U.S. Soccer's investigation. O'Connor met with the players, who shared concerns about how the staff was handling players' medical issues as well as concerns about Holly's treatment of players. Ex-Philadelphia Independence coach Paul Riley fired from NWSL team amid allegations of sexual misconduct, Joanna Lohman was fooled by Paul Riley in Philadelphia, where he allegedly coerced her teammates, Megan Rapinoe criticizes Paul Riley, who briefly coached her on the Philadelphia Independence, Equalizer Soccer reported the anti-harassment detail, U.S. Soccer promises action after Yates investigation details abuse and sexual coercion in NWSL, California residents do not sell my data request. While the temporary protocols mentioned only coaches, general managers, and team presidents, in practice, the NWSL directed clubs to submit for background checks all employees who work closely with players. The report did not make any recommendations, noting instead that recommended actions for the Thorns to take would be determined by Paulson and Wilkinson. As one former player described, "It was almost like [the coach] was trying to break down [my teammate's] confidence so that she would not even be playing for the team. A Spirit player stated that rather than engaging in constructive criticism, Burke would "[go] at [her teammate] just to get her to cry." Adding to this controversy, in July 2011, the WPS players' union filed a grievance that accused Borislow of bullying and threatening players, and creating a "hostile, oppressive and intimidating work environment." One former player reported that at the Utah Royals home stadium, fans called players names "based off race and sexual orientation, and players did not want to play in Utah as a result. [we] use the [NWSLPA] as a voice or shield to speak to the executives at the club. Maybe. A player from another club recalled players feeling like they would not be protected if they spoke up about a coach's misconduct, and the player also expressed fear that she would be traded or cut if she raised concerns about her coach. Novo explained that before this happened, players approached him and requested a meeting to share concerns about Holly. Most prominently, on September 30, 2021, The Athletic reported that then-North Carolina Courage Head Coach Paul Riley had engaged in sexual misconduct during his tenure as head coach of Portland Thorns FC. The conclusion mentioned none of these concerns. When Racing Louisville was considering hiring Holly, no one contacted Novo regarding Holly or the reason he departed Sky Blue. . Prior to the event, he forwarded Shim an email containing his hotel reservation-one room with a king bed-and asked Shim to stay with him. According to multiple players and club staff, Riley repeatedly made negative comments about the relationship to other players on the team, including remarks that Farrelly was not truly a lesbian and that Farrelly's then-partner was a "predator." The NWSL should update the 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy to incorporate the NonFraternization Policy currently found in its Operations Manual. The Joint Investigative Team requested documents from every club through the appropriate club official or club counsel. When one player opened the door, she told Harrington that she and her roommate did not want to go back out for drinks. Reis was placed on unpaid administrative leave and is required to participate in mandatory training regarding retaliation, discrimination, harassment and bullying, and must participate in mandatory executive coaching. Alyse LaHue joined the Chicago Red Stars eight years ago as an intern under Peter Wilt and then-GM Marcia McDermott.
Oversight Committee Composition and Operation. When the team arrived in Chicago, Dames "gave the team the entire weekend off." Several players and staff described Clarkson's mood as unpredictable or hot or cold, leading players to feel like they were walking on eggshells around him or would not know what to expect in terms of his attitude on any given day. .
The failure to take intermediary action left players in an unsafe environment for well over a year while the investigation was ongoing. 75, Benstiti saying that he would replicate his "very strict monitoring and measuring [of Horan's] weight and what she's eating" with the club's players. This assessment of Whisler failed to acknowledge the report's own statement that "four of the players with the most significant concerns did not, for various reasons, believe Whisler [was] willing to address those concerns." In addition to the specific incidents and individuals discussed above, players and staff members across a variety of teams described a general fear of retaliation for reporting concerns or otherwise taking action protected by the Anti-Harassment Policy. Towards the end of the interview, she told Garcia that she was afraid of what Riley could do to her career, noting Riley "ha[d] contacts, help[ed] players play overseas, [and had] big ties." When the investigation concluded in September 2019, Wahlke failed to share relevant information about the investigative findings with the NWSL or the Red Stars, citing U.S. Soccer's privilege as the rationale for not sharing this information.