The case was already well convoluted.
She has become downright bizarre.
Gregg Berhalter, coach of the United States team, would have liked to continue his adventure beyond December 31, 2022, the date of the end of his contract.
But the US federation put discussions on stand-by and opened an investigation after being informed of Berhalter's violence committed… in 1991 on his girlfriend at the time, who became his wife.
To put an end to the rumours, the couple chose to open up about it in a press release.
"Rosalind
(Editor's note: his wife)
and I had a heated argument
(Editor's note: in a bar)
which continued outside, said the one who had been dating the teenager for four months.
It got physical and I kicked him in the legs.
It was a shameful moment, which I still regret today.
There is no excuse for my actions that night (…) This is a story that belongs to us.
»
🎥 Gregg Berhalter speaking on Harvard Business Review.
Spoke on the current situation and how he hopes to continue as USMNT coach: pic.twitter.com/s9xnlB1H8p
— 🇺🇸 USMNT vs Haters (@USMNTvsHaters) January 5, 2023
The couple have since had four children and Berhalter claims to have consulted a psychologist and no longer had any outbursts of violence.
“Our whole family is saddened by these events,” he continued in an interview with the Harvard Business Review.
It's something we didn't hide then, and we're not ready to hide it now.
In fact, the events of that night, 31 years ago, and the lessons we learned from it laid the foundation for our relationship going forward.
It's a loving relationship, a devoted relationship, and we have four amazing kids under our belt (…) I think the worst thing is that I feel bad for my wife, because it's was hers to tell her story.
»
So why this late unboxing?
It turns out that the “anonymous” informants who wisely warned the federal authorities of Berhalter's reprehensible actions in his youth are none other than the parents of Giovanni Reyna, the Dortmund attacking midfielder and great American hope.
They did not appreciate that their 20-year-old son, who was returning from injury, was forced to sit on the bench most of the time during the World Cup in Qatar.
After putting pressure on some federal executives during the competition (but they deny any attempt to blackmail them to get playing time for their offspring), they have moved into high gear.
With all the more facility to foment their revenge that they know the Berhalter family intimately.
"I felt personally betrayed by the actions of someone my family has considered a friend for decades"
Danielle Reyna, mother of Giovanni Reyna
Reyna's father, Claudio, and the coach on probation from the USA indeed played together in youth and at the same time wore the jersey of the national team.
Their wives were roommates during their studies at the University of North Carolina.
“He minimizes considerably, dropped Danielle Reyna.
She
(Editor's note: Rosalind)
was my roommate, my teammate and my best friend, and I supported her in the trauma that followed.
It took me a long time to forgive and then accept Gregg.
»
To forgive.
Danielle Reyna, herself a former international, does not understand that Berhalter did not show compassion for her boy, who was almost ejected from the team for his behavior and his lack of involvement after a vote of all the players in Doha.
On the return from Qatar, Berhalter had denounced the bad attitude of a player, taking care not to name him.
Giovanni Reyna himself had confessed on social networks, explaining a loss of motivation after learning of the “limited role” that he was expected to play.
“I worked hard to forgive Gregg.
I would have hoped he would forgive Gio the same way, let go of the mother Reyna to justify his actions.
I regret that he was dragged through the mud, while Gregg asked for and was granted forgiveness for having done something much more serious at the same age (…) I felt personally betrayed by the actions of someone that my family has considered a friend for decades.
»
Gio.
Claudio.
Danielle.
The Reyna family becomes the first to have 3 members represent senior US national teams 🇺🇸👨👩👦 pic.twitter.com/Sjd4WPcJVN
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 12, 2020
An independent law firm was hired by the US federation on December 11 to investigate this thorny issue that is shaking the small world of soccer.
In the meantime, Anthony Hudson, Berhalter's assistant, has taken charge of Team USA and will manage the camp scheduled for January and the friendly matches that will follow.
The former holder of the post hopes to return there, especially since the next World Cup will take place on American soil (with Canada and Mexico) in 2026.
“There is a super high potential in this group, he explains.
The 2026 World Cup will be an incredible challenge.
When we started in 2018, we wanted to change the way the world views American football.
I think when you ask the whole world now about our team, the world sees us in a completely different light.
“If Berhalter finds his bench one day, what will happen to Giovanni Reyna?