United States team captain Becky Sauerbrunn said on Tuesday that team owners and other officials were singled out for their passivity in investigating the systemic practice of sexual abuse and assault in women's soccer. American, should be banned.
The 37-year-old two-time world champion, taking part in a video conference from London where the United States are due to face England in a friendly on Friday, said the players were "
horrified and heartbroken
" the day after the publication of the findings of the independent investigation, led by former US Attorney General Sally Yates.
The 172-page report includes interviews with more than 200 North American League (NWSL) players and details multiple coaches' abuses, manipulation, bullying and retaliation against players.
Facts that include "
comments with a sexual connotation, advances, unwanted touching and forced sexual intercourse
" within the professional championship and even beyond, in structures dedicated to young people.
"
Every owner, officer, manager of American women's soccer who has failed in their duty to the players, who failed to protect them, who hid behind legal considerations and did not fully participate in these investigations should be fired.
Said Sauerbrunn.
Merritt Paulson, owner of Sauerbrunn club the Portland Thorns, is accused in the Yates report, along with other club officials, of turning a blind eye to abuse by Paul Riley, the team's former coach.
When pressed on whether Paulson is among the owners she thinks should be banned from the NSWL, Sauerbrunn replied: "
That includes anyone who has continued to disappoint players time and time again, who hasn't who did not take their concerns seriously, who did not transmit information correctly, who did not participate in investigations.
All
”.
“Frustrated, Exhausted, Angry”
Becky Sauerbrunn
Paulson, who is also the owner of the Men's League (MLS) franchise Portland Timbers, announced on Tuesday that he is stepping down as manager of the Thorns pending the conclusion of a separate investigation by the NWSL, in conjunction with the players' union.
“
We're frustrated, we're exhausted and we're really, really angry.
Because it took a third-party investigation, because it took articles in The Athletic and the Washington Post (which exposed the case, editor's note), because it took more than 200 people share their trauma to get here
,” Sauerbrunn insisted.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski for his part indicated that he wanted to leave the choice to the players "
not to play the match
" on Friday, if they do not feel mentally capable of doing so.
“
Some need time to think about all this.
This is why we allow them to do what they need to overcome this difficult period.
»
Finally, Sauerbrunn assured that he had not thought of going on strike to force change within the NWSL.
“
I didn't think of that.
I hope we don't come to that.
Many of us have navigated these waters for a very long time... We eventually find a way to cope.
As women, players, we had to deal with a lot of things for a very long time.
Unfortunately, I would say you get used to it.
»
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