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U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said Monday that the findings of the Sally Q. Yates investigation are just the “first step” in changing an environment that has allowed abuse of professional women players to go unchecked for many years.
The findings of the USSF-commissioned Yates report, which was released Monday, revealed “a league in which abuse and misconduct — verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct — has become systemic, involving multiple teams, coaches and victims. The NWSL rooted in a deeper culture in women’s soccer, starting in the youth leagues, that normalizes verbally abusive coaching and blurs the lines between coaches and players.
While Cone praised the thoroughness of the report, which interviewed more than 200 witnesses, she found the investigation’s findings painful to read.
“Misconduct and abuse are completely inexcusable and have no place in football on or off the field,” Cone said. “I think this report makes it clear that we need to make systemic changes at every level of our game.
“This report is just the first step in taking a hard look at the whole football ecosystem in this country and what we need to do.”
The report focuses on the conduct of three managers: former FC Sky Blue and Racing Louisville coach Christy Holley, former Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage manager Paul Riley and former Chicago Red Stars player Rory Dames.
– US Soccer investigation finds systemic abuse in NWSL
The investigation revealed significant details about all three managers, but the revelations surrounding Holley, who allegedly groped a Louisville player on multiple occasions, had not been previously reported. He was sacked by the club in August 2021.
The report also reveals how Portland, Louisville and Chicago tried to thwart or delay the work of investigators. Cone noted that the USSF is limited in what it can do to discipline owners or managers who engage in such behavior.
“A lot of these decisions are not solely up to American football,” Cone said when asked if some people would be punished. “I think the report shows that we have systemic problems beyond any individual. I wish everyone had cooperated in the investigation? Of course I help. We will have a more complete picture of everything. We have a committee that we have set up a place where we will be tasked with looking at disciplinary actions, which I think is important.”
Cone noted that the only power the USSF has over the NWSL is sanctioning the league. Any further discipline will likely come from the NWSL.
“I guess I would say we have the influence, but not the power to enforce anything,” she said.
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The E:60 team embarks on an investigation into the National Women’s Soccer League abuse scandal.
The NWSL released a statement on Monday with a message of support for the league’s players, who backed the Yates report’s calls for change.
“We appreciate the cooperation of our players, staff and stakeholders with both investigations, especially during the current season,” the NWSL said in a statement. “We recognize the anxiety and mental strain caused by these upcoming investigations and the trauma that many – including players and staff – will have to relive. We continue to admire their courage in coming forward to share their stories and affect any changes necessary to continue moving our league forward.”
Riley was fired for cause by the Turns in 2015 following an internal investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and coercion, though the manner of his departure has been kept quiet. When asked specifically if the Thorns were involved in covering up Riley’s firing, Cone avoided a direct answer, citing the impact the report had on her given her history as a player as well as an NWSL manager.
“I don’t think it’s my job to interpret everything in this report right now,” Cone said. “It’s a very big report, over 350 pages, and I’ll be honest with you: it’s very emotional for me. And frankly, I’m having trouble digesting everything in the report.
“I think it’s going to take some time to read it and think about the actions and actions of certain people and that, and then it’s going to take some time for us to really think about what needs to be done in terms of discipline.”
The USSF is set to implement numerous reforms to allow for greater transparency and accountability. This includes better reporting of abusive coaches, stricter licensing requirements and a new committee chaired by former US international Daniel Slayton to ensure reforms continue. Cone said he doesn’t expect pushback from the NWSL on potential reforms.
“Our goals are aligned,” Conu said of the USSF and NWSL. “Everybody wants this sport to be safer. Nobody wants any player or executive or any person and participant to go through what these women went through.”
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