(Los Angeles) MLS announced Thursday it has launched an independent investigation into how the Vancouver Whitecaps have handled sexual assault allegations involving two former coaches of the Canadian club’s women’s team.
MLS said it hired lawyers Janice Rubin and Melody Jahanzadeh to investigate allegations against Bob Birarda and Hubert Busby Jr.
Birarda is the subject of criminal proceedings in Canada for several counts, including that of sexual assault, relating to a period of 20 years between 1988 and 2008. The former coach of the Whitecaps, who was also that of the Canadian team under 20, had left its two functions in 2008 by “mutual agreement”, after the revelation of allegations against it.
Those targeting Busby surfaced in an article in the Guardian last month. Former player Malloree Enoch told the English newspaper that the former coach made sexual advances on her when he was head of the Whitecaps from 2010 to 2011.
Busby, 52, was suspended from his duties as manager of the Jamaican women’s national team this week over the allegations.
Whitecaps general manager Axel Schuster apologized for the way the club handled the allegations against Busby ten years ago on Friday.
“Club officials were made aware at the end of the 2011 season and promptly enlisted the services of an independent mediator to oversee an investigation into this matter,” said Schuster. “We have since learned that the investigation has failed to establish some of the allegations disclosed this week. ”
The case comes as the NWSL has been rocked in recent weeks by a series of similar scandals.
North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley was fired in September following allegations of sexual assault made against him by two former players who played under him at the Portland Thorns from 2014 to 2015.
Denounced for her inaction, the league’s commissioner, Lisa Baird, has resigned from her post.
Washington Spirit coach Richie Burke was sacked last month following an investigation into allegations of bullying. A case which led to the resignation of the president of this club, Steve Baldwin.