NWSL permanently bans four coaches and fines teams

• The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has issued lifetime bans to four coaches and fined teams for misconduct. 
• This comes after an independent investigator brought in by U.S. Soccer found out that abuse and misconduct had become systematic in the league. 

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has issued lifetime bans to four coaches and fined teams for misconduct. The four coaches are Paul Riley, Rory Dames, Christy Holly and Richie Burke.

NWSL permanently bans four coaches from the league. Photo/ Optus Sport.

This comes after an independent investigator brought in by U.S. Soccer found out that abuse and misconduct had become systematic in the league. 

A joint investigation unit for the league and their players’ association said last month that widespread misconduct was ongoing in the NWSL. 

The investigative team reached out to all 12 NWSL teams and 780 current and former players. The team also reached out to 90 current and former club staff as well as those from the league offices. 

A pair of former players had accused Englishman Paul Riley of sexual coercion and harassment. Riley denied the accusations but was fired by the North Carolina Courage afterwards. 

The alleged offences against Paul Riley led to several NWSL games being suspended before players halted matches in displays of unity. 

The Englishman was one of the five NWSL coaches who were either fired or resigned in 2021 due to claims of misconduct. 

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said on Monday that the league would continue to implement policies that prioritize the health and safety of the players. 

“As part of our commitment to accountability and deterrence, the league has determined that further corrective action with respect to certain organizations and individuals identified in the Joint Investigative Report is appropriate and necessary. The league and its clubs have taken meaningful steps to begin this structural reform.” Part of commissioner Jessica Berman’s statement, as per BBC Sports.

The NWSL Players’ Association added in a statement that the disciplinary sanctions mark a critical step towards holding teams and leaders accountable for their actions. 

“Today, the NWSL announced disciplinary sanctions for clubs and individuals who committed or enabled misconduct since the league began in 2013. This marks a critical step towards holding clubs and team leaders accountable for their actions, or inactions, that compromised and betrayed player safety.” Part of NWSL’s statement, according to Sky Sports. 

The teams which have been fined include the Chicago Red Stars and Portland Thorns. Chicago Red stars will pay a fine of $1.5 million, while Portland Thorns will pay $1 million. 

The Red Stars and Thorns owners have agreed to sell their teams. 

Other sanctions include a $100,000 fine for the Courage and a $200,000 fine for Racing Louisville. The NWSL demands both teams hire sporting staff that is totally different from their men’s teams. Gotham and The Reign were each fined $50,000. 

The NWSL has listed the future employment of eight individuals as “conditional”. One of the individuals is the current Republic of Ireland women’s national football team manager Vera Pauw.

Vera Pauw. Photo/ Breaking News.