New England players refused to train amid Arena exit - sources - ESPN

New England Revolution players refused to train on Tuesday in response to a lack of clarity over the circumstances that led to Bruce Arena's resignation as manager, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN.

The Athletic was the first to report the news.

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Arena resigned Saturday following a nearly six-week investigation by the law firm Proskauer Rose, which was hired by MLS to look into allegations of «insensitive and inappropriate remarks» made by the now former Revs manager.

Arena was initially placed on administrative leave, with the team being managed on an interim basis by assistant coach Richie Williams.

MLS, in a statement released Saturday, indicated the investigation «confirmed certain of these allegations» and that if Arena wished to work in the league again, he would have to file a petition to MLS commissioner Don Garber.

A report in The Athletic asserted that complaints filed by Williams were part of the investigation.

During Tuesday's media availability, Williams said the decision to not train was made by players and staff «as a group collectively.»

But sources tell ESPN that during a meeting between players and staff, which included Williams, interim sporting director Curt Onalfo, team president Brian Bilello and a representative from human resources, players asked Williams to elaborate on the extent of his involvement in the investigation.

When Bilello indicated that they couldn't respond to that question, the players reacted negatively to the lack of transparency and decided they wouldn't train.

A second meeting between players and the coaching staff took place afterward in which Williams once again said he couldn't answer their questions.

The circumstances