The players are demanding immediate radical measures

US soccer players and former players united on Monday to demand action and a radical change in their sport after a report was released that indicated systematic abuse of them and for years in the Women’s Professional Soccer League (NWSL).

“As hard as this report is to read, it’s even more painful for the players, famous or not, who lived through it,” the NWSL players’ union (NWSLPA) said in a statement.

“We appreciate the efforts to find the truth and for supporting our work to change the NWSL,” the union added, demanding that the NWSL focus from now on being a league that prioritizes “the safety of its players. “

For its part, the US women’s team players association (USWNT Players) also defended in a press release that all soccer players “deserve to work in an environment free of discrimination, harassment and abusive behavior. ” “We urge the United States Federation (USSF) to immediately implement the recommendations (in the report),” they added.

The NWSL appeared to take up the gauntlet, saying they must “learn and take responsibility for the painful lessons of the past to lead the league into a better future.” In this sense, he mentioned the “implementation of a systematic reform” in his competition to guarantee that the league is a place “where the players are supported, on and off the field, with safe and professional environments to train and compete.”

Besides the collective reactions, some players went it alone. “I think when serious accusations come your way and you ignore us…you should never have anything to do with this sport. Period. There is no damage control – only damage,” the Angel City forward tweeted Sydney Leroux. .

In addition, former players Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim and soccer player Erin Simon called for “action, accountability and change” in a joint statement to the NWSL.

Manipulative tactics to abuse rather than improve the game

The American Women’s Professional Soccer League has been the scene of systematic abuse at all levels among its players and its highest authority has repeatedly ignored accusations in this regard, according to a report published this Monday and commissioned by the USSF.

Independent research by law firm King & Spalding paints a picture where verbal and emotional abuse of female footballers and inappropriate sexual behavior goes beyond the limits of “difficult” training and usually from junior to senior level.

Nearly 200 interviews with retired and active players, coaches, club owners or staff exposed manipulative tactics that were more about abuse of power than improving the game and a disturbing pattern of comments has sexual content. , unwanted touching or forced sex.

The teams, the League and the Federation “have not only failed systematically when it comes to responding adequately when faced with complaints from players and signs of abuse, but also when it comes to establishing measures to prevent and deal with it,” stressed the 36 page document.

As a result of this lack of vigilance, the coaches responsible for these abuses moved from team to team without anyone terminating their contracts, whitewashed by press releases in which the clubs thanked them for service provided.

The document focuses on three coaches -Paul Riley, Rory Dames and Christy Holly- to illustrate the seriousness of the phenomenon, but remembers that last season half of the ten teams in the League parted with their coaches after complaints from the players.

De Dames, for example, remembers calling his junior Chicago Eclipse Select players “sluts,” “retards” or “fat ass” and “crossing the line into sexual intercourse on multiple occasions.” Once with the Chicago Red Stars, within the league, he created a hostile environment with verbal abuse during games, the report said.

Among the recommendations to correct this situation are calls for more transparency and accountability, clear regulations that define inappropriate behavior and making it easier for players to air their concerns.