The conclusions of this independent investigation, commissioned in October 2021, were unveiled on Monday in a press release.
The American football federation takes the lead and the bull by the horns. US Soccer commissioned an independent investigation in October 2021 from Yates and King & Spalding and former prosecutor Sally Yates. Investigation which was to shed light after accusations of abuse and sexual assault in professional women’s football in the United States. “The findings of this investigation are heartbreaking and deeply disturbing.“, blows Cindy Parlow Cone, the president of the said federation describing facts “inexcusable and which have no place on any playground, in any training center or workplace».
Through his voice, US Soccer “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“, announcing a number of measures with immediate effect and others to come in order to “creating meaningful and lasting change across the entire football ecosystem».
“Systemic” practice of abuse
In the report of almost 200 pages, aroused by numerous testimonies, it is said “that inappropriate and abusive behavior permeated the culture of the League as a whole“Stressing that the investigations only concerned professional football. “The coaches whose conduct was at issue also have deep ties to youth football. During our investigation, we came across several reports of abuse in youth football“, we specify, referring to a practice “systemic» Abuses, against the players of the NWSL but not only, in the administrative staff as well. It is a question of “sexual comments, unwanted sexual advances and touching, and forced sex».
«Many coaches have verbally or emotionally abused players“, we still say, citing for example the actions of Paul Riley, Rory Dames and Christy Holly, who “are not the only ones», «to illustrate the seriousness of the abuses involved and the institutional failures that contributed to them“. A committee will be set up and will deliver its conclusions by the end of January at the latest.