The investigation was completed and the sanctions fell.
The North American Women's Soccer League (NWSL) announced on Monday that it has banned for life four coaches accused of sexually assaulting female players.
Fourteen months of examining complaints from female footballers led the NWSL to punish these "continuing wrongdoings" committed over several years.
The most severe penalties - due to their final nature - were imposed on Paul Riley, Christy Holly, Rory Dames and Richie Burke, all banned for life from the instance led by Jessica Berman.
Riley, a former Portland Thorns coach, was accused by two players of coercing the first into non-consensual sex and sexually harassing the second.
He is the subject of a separate investigation by US Soccer, led by former US Attorney General Sally Yates.
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Holly, who ran Racing Louisville, was fired after being accused of sexual assault and touching a player.
According to the Yates report, Dames, ex-coach of the Chicago Red Stars, had the habit of verbally attacking, insulting the players, and threatening them.
Finally, Burke, who was at the head of the Washington Spirit, verbally stigmatized the ethnicity of players.
An assistant coach and a general manager have been suspended for two years and six other people will have to prove themselves before finding a job in the league.
The Chicago Red Stars and the Portland Thorns will each be fined $1.5 million and $1 million for their behavior in the cases, ranging from negligence in the face of the acts committed to their desire to conceal them. .
The NWSL fined its office "at least $1 million" and promised it would be overhauled to address systemic flaws affecting the league.