NWSL Commissioner
More allegations of abuse within women’s professional soccer have come to light since the Yates report was released on Oct. 3.
Appearing on CNN’s New Day with Brianna Keilar, United States Soccer Federation president Cindy Parlow Cone revealed at least three new allegations of misconduct have emerged.
Cone didn’t provide any details of the new cases, but she did note the release of the Yates report has been “encouraging more people to come forward.”
U.S. Soccer announced in October 2021 it retained Sally Yates, former U.S. attorney general, to lead an independent investigation into allegations of abusive behavior and sexual misconduct throughout women’s professional soccer in the United States.
In the final report released this week, Yates’ investigation found abuse and misconduct in the NWSL had become “systemic, spanning multiple teams, coaches, and victims.”
Other key takeaways from Yates’ report include structural issues within the NWSL since it launched in 2012 without “the most basic of workplace protections” and ruled the U.S. Soccer Federation “gave little thought or attention to basic player protections” in order to maintain the league’s existence.
Responding to the report, U.S. Soccer announced next steps that include creating a committee of the board of directors to develop a plan of action based on Yates’ recommendations and establish an office of participant safety to oversee the organization’s conduct policies and reporting mechanisms.
U.S. Soccer @ussoccer
Today, U.S. Soccer released the full findings and recommendations of Sally Q. Yates’ independent investigation and announced plans to immediately work to implement those recommendations in collaboration with U.S. Soccer members at all levels of the game » https://t.co/deNMfKPxYK pic.twitter.com/2i3Mn92wDA
Parlow Cone told Keilar she has forwarded the new reports of misconduct to the U.S. Center for SafeSport and other authorities.
Prior to their friendly on Friday, the U.S. and England women’s national teams stood together with a banner reading “protect the players.”
In November 2021, U.S. women’s national team star Christen Press told Molly Hensley-Clancy of the Washington Post she approached then-U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati about a “toxic environment” generated by Rory Dames, her coach with the Chicago Red Stars, in 2018.
According to Press, Gulati “dismissed her concerns” and made attempts to normalize Dames’ behavior. Dames resigned his position with Chicago amid multiple allegations of emotional and verbal abuse.
In addition to multiple allegations against of abusive behavior against Dames, Yates’ report also focused on similar allegations against former Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley and former Racing Louisville head coach Christy Holly, who were both also accused of sexual coercion and misconduct.
Merritt Paulson, owner of the Thorns, and Arnim Whisler, owner of the Red Stars, announced they were relinquishing control of their clubs. Neither one has given an indication they will sell the teams.
