The survey, published on Monday, suggests “sexual comments, unwanted sexual advances and touching, and forced sex” repeated against players, especially from the American national team.
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After gymnastics and the Larry Nassar affair in 2018, another sport is the target of accusations of large-scale sexual assault in the United States. An investigation carried out by the American Football Federation, published Monday, October 3, targets a practice “systemic“of sexual abuse, of which many players have been victims, including some playing in the national team, within the framework of the championship organized by the League (NWSL).
This investigation by former United States Attorney General Sally Yates and the law firm King & Spalding uncovered “sexual comments, unwanted sexual advances and touching, and forced sexwithin women’s soccer in the United States. The 172-page report includes interviews with more than 200 NWSL players and details abuse by coaches, as well as manipulation, bullying and retaliation against women. against players who testified.
collective passivity
The investigation established that clubs, league officials and the United States Soccer Federation “repeatedly failed to respond appropriately when confronted with evidence-based complaints from players” and “have not put in place necessary measures to prevent and address these abuses, even though some leaders have privately acknowledged the need for protections in the workplace“.
This collective passivity notably allowed a coach with abusive and reprehensible behavior to move from one club to another, preceded by positive references which concealed his misconduct. “Those at the NWSL and USSF who were in a position to correct the situation remained silent, overwhelm the investigators. And no one within the clubs, the league or the federation has demanded better from the coaches.”
“The findings of this investigation are heartbreaking and deeply disturbing.“said USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone, a former U.S. Women’s National Team player who took over in 2020 and launched the investigation a year ago.”The abuses described are inexcusable and have no place on the field, in a training center or other workplace. The Federation is fully committed to doing everything in its power to ensure that all players – at all levels – have a safe and respectful place to learn, grow and compete.“, she added.