Megan Rapinoe isn't giving up.
With eight other players including her friends Alex Morgan or Carli Lloyd of the American national football team, she sent a letter this Wednesday to the attention of Cindy Parlow Cone, the current president of the federation (USSF) and Carlos Cordeiro, the former president who is running for a new term.
They accuse the authorities of having "failed to do the bare minimum", by its "deliberate inaction", to protect the players against coaches who were perpetrators of sexual assault, the day after new revelations.
“The USSF had an obligation to protect its players but did nothing as the abuse continued.
She should have immediately revoked the coaching licenses of the perpetrators.
Instead, the Federation has allowed these people to continue to practice, while ensuring that it wants to investigate.
She did not ensure our safety or that of the minors who play in the youth leagues”.
Rory Dames and Paul Riley in turmoil
This letter follows revelations by the Washington Post of sexual and psychological abuse by coaches, which had nevertheless been reported to the federation.
The daily reports that former Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames made sexual advances to teenage girls when he was in charge of youth teams, and one of them complained to the police in 1998. Dames went on to become Red Stars manager, and in 2018 striker Christen Press complained to the USSF about abusive behavior on his part.
“The revelations documented in the Washington Post this Tuesday, February 8 (of systemic, gross and horrific abuse of young girls by their football coaches) are sickening.
Over the years, while playing for the national team or club, many of us have reported to the USSF instances where we have experienced abusive behavior from coaches.
We now learn that minors were victims and that the USSF did not react.
It's discouraging ".
The revelations about Dames' past follow allegations of sexual assault made in September by two former Portland Thorns players against ex-coach Paul Riley.
The American Federation has opened an independent investigation which is still ongoing.
In their letter, the players demand that the conclusions be made public and the promise to adopt "significant institutional reforms".