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US coach Gregg Berhalter (left), offensive player Reyna at the World Cup in Qatar.
Photo: Esteban Biba / IMAGO / Agencia EFE
An affair involving US national coach Gregg Berhalter, who took part in the men's soccer team at the World Cup in Qatar, has shaken the association.
It's about a shin kick 30 years ago, a late revelation - and national player Gio Reyna, whose parents are said to have played an important role in the whole thing.
In 1991, Berhalter, who publicized the incident in a statement, kicked his then-girlfriend, now wife Rosalind, in the legs during a "heated altercation" after visiting a bar in 1991.
The two then split up, but reunited seven months later.
"It was a single incident, more than three decades ago, and a terrible decision made at a bad moment by an 18-year-old," Berhalter said.
Rosalind forgave him.
Families and friends of the two, as well as the four children, knew about the incident.
There was no report at the time, and the police were not involved.
But why was the incident made public after all these years?
Berhalter wrote in his statement that someone – he did not name a name – had alerted the US association to “take him down” (“to take him down”).
The trail leads to the last World Cup, where the USA lost to the Netherlands in the round of 16.
In the team there was a conflict between Berhalter and offensive player Gio Reyna.
Surprisingly, Reyna, who plays for BVB in the Bundesliga, mostly sat on the bench and hardly got any playing time.
He was only substituted on in two games.
At a press conference, the coach also criticized Reyna without naming him.
"A player" did not meet expectations on and off the pitch.
He was about to be suspended.
Reyna later confirmed in an Instagram post that what he meant was that he was disappointed with his limited role and it actually affected his behavior during training for a few days.
He apologized to the coach and team and was also forgiven.
But Reyna also wrote: "I believe that things that happen within a team should remain private." There seemed to have been a certain irritation in the Reyna household, because, according to the "New York Times" and the sports portal ESPN , Gio's parents decided to tell the association about the incident around 30 years ago.
According to NYT, mother Danielle contacted team athletic director Earnie Stewart.
She was "outraged and devastated".
However, the Reynas deny that they threatened Berhalter in any way.
So far, neither Reyna's consulting agency nor the US association have responded to SPIEGEL inquiries.
Close friends: Claudio was best man, Danielle was roommate
But how did the Reynas know about the incident between the Berhalters?
The answer: the two families have been (or were?) friends for many years.
Berhalter and Gio's father Claudi played together in the national team, Claudio was best man at Berhalter's wedding.
Danielle and Rosalind were roommates in college and close friends.
Referring to Berhalter's ESPN statement, Danielle said: "Without going into detail, yesterday's testimony grossly downplays the abuse that took place on the night in question.
Rosalind Berhalter was my roommate, teammate and best friend and I supported her through the trauma that followed.«
It took her a long time to forgive Berhalter "and finally made both of them and their children an important part of my family life".
She would have wished and expected Berhalter to show the same mercy to Gio.
"That's why the current situation is so hurtful and hard."
“We take such behavior seriously”
After learning about Berhalter's 30-year-old assault, the US Football Association hired the law firm Alston & Bird LLP to conduct an independent investigation, which is still ongoing.
We have learned of "potentially inappropriate behavior" towards several members of our staff by people outside our organization.
"We take such behavior seriously and have expanded our investigation into these allegations," the association said. "US Soccer condemns all forms of violence and takes such allegations very seriously."
In the coming days it will be announced who will lead the national team in the future.
Berhalter's contract expired on December 31.
"Obviously this is not a good time for football in this country and for our men's national team," said association president Cindy Parlow Cone at a press conference.
