Lindsey Horan: NWSL report must not be end point to abuse investigation

The US midfielder Lindsey Horan has said she does not want the Sally Yates report on emotional abuse and sexual misconduct in her country’s domestic league to be the “end point” of discussions and investigations into abuses in women’s football.

A year-long independent investigation into abuse and sexual misconductwas published on Monday revealed that abuse and misconduct had become systemic, spanning multiple teams, coaches and victims in the National Women’s Soccer League.

Before the world champions’ game against England, the European champions, at a sold-out Wembley on Friday night, Horan said: “It’s not just the NWSL, this is women’s football in general, it’s women in general, we have these problems all over the world, it’s a global systemic problem. So I don’t want that to be the end point.

“This investigation came forward and we’re thankful of that but it took way too long. This whole thing was incredibly prolonged and I sit here and I’m like: it’s not done, this is all over the world and being a player in Europe right now, I know that.”

England’s Lucy Bronze echoed those sentiments. “Obviously we don’t know the ins and outs of all of it, we’ve read a little bit of it , but every single one of us is in solidarity with all of those players,” she said.

“Particularly the ones who have spoken out and told their truths, because I can imagine – well, I can’t even imagine – how hard it must be to have gone through it and then to speak out.

“The bigger picture is that speaking out is hopefully going to make sure these types of things don’t happen again and that they can make solutions, people can be held accountable. The most important thing for us to do, not only as English players and the US, is to support those players