The midfielder for Gotham FC of the NWSL, Sinead Farrelly, announced this week that he is retiring from football. The reason? He is suffering from post-concussion syndrome. His is a touching story of how to touch heaven as champion of the prestigious American League and how to descend into hell in the blink of an eye.
The 34-year-old footballer has been advised by a neurologist to quit football due to the cumulative head injuries sustained during his career. It happened when it achieved the highest brightness. He won the NWSL title and made his debut in the last World Cup with the Republic of Ireland, but the most important thing was the role he played, with Mana Shim, to change the league, its culture and its player protection policies.
And the midfielder dared to denounce one of his NWSL coaches for sexually inappropriate behavior ten years ago, when he was a member of the Portland Thorns. Farrelly and Shim have accused coach Paul Riley of ongoing sexual abuse since 2015, when they were players on the Portland team.
So, Sinead Farrelly announced her retirement from football due to post-concussion syndrome: “A neurologist advised her to stop playing football due to the cumulative head injuries she suffered throughout her career, leaving he further injuries to my head if I continued to play,” the New York club said in a statement.
“Thank you to Gotham and its entire staff, my teammates, my family, my people and the fans who kept me on this path when I wanted to turn around and run,” Farrelly wrote after hearing the news of his retirement. “I would be nowhere without all of you. I promise that this graduation is a gift, a blessing, and just the beginning of something new. I am so grateful that this crazy chapter existed, especially that it didn’t end in a way that I was completely satisfied and at peace with. This really has been so special,” said the Irishwoman.
The life of Farrelly It is filled with the problem of sexual abuse. The midfielder dared ten years ago to denounce one of his NWSL coaches for sexual misconduct. These accusations were not taken seriously when they were reported to Portland thorn. Today the League bid him farewell with a silent ovation and loud recognition of his bravery.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
