'Heartbreaking' - Investigation finds 'systemic' abuse in US women's football and National Women's Soccer League

An investigation into women’s football in the United States has found that abuse and sexual misconduct has been “systemic”. The investigation was commissioned after several players came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against former North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley last year. Ad More than 200 people were interviewed by investigators.

Premier League‘He asks you to defend him!’ – Carragher and Ferdinand in Ronaldo rowAN HOUR AGO “Our investigation has revealed a league in which abuse and misconduct-verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct-had become systemic, spanning multiple teams, coaches, and victims,” the report read. “Abuse in the NWSL [National Women’s Soccer League] is rooted in a deeper culture in women’s soccer, beginning in youth leagues, that normalizes verbally abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players. “The verbal and emotional abuse players describe in the NWSL is not merely ‘tough’ coaching.

And the players affected are not shrinking violets. They are among the best athletes in the world.” Riley was fired following the allegations and NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird stepped down. Amid further allegations of misconduct, five of the 10 head coaches in the NWSL last season left their roles.

The report added that the NWSL, US Soccer and teams did not put basic safeguards in place for players. “Teams, the League, and the Federation not only repeatedly failed to respond appropriately when confronted with player reports and evidence of abuse, they also failed to institute basic measures to prevent and address it, even as some leaders privately acknowledged the need for workplace protections,” the report read. “As a result, abusive coaches moved from