The North American Women’s Football League (NWSL) is in turmoil following the dismissal of two coaches accused of sexual assault for one and harassment for the other. Criticized for its handling of the file since the first accusations made by players a few months ago, Lisa Baird, the commissioner of the league, resigned on Friday 1er October. All games scheduled for this weekend in the United States have been suspended and on Monday the American Football Federation (US Soccer) announced that it had asked a former federal prosecutor to investigate the allegations of assault and harassment.
“US Soccer has asked Sally Q. Yates of King & Spalding LLP to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior and sexual assault in professional women’s football.”, said the federation in a statement released on Sunday. Sally Yates will benefit from“Full autonomy, with all the access and resources necessary to verify facts and find evidence, wherever they are”, added the instance.
The International Football Federation (FIFA) also announced on Friday that it was opening an investigation. It was the dismissal, Thursday, September 30, of Paul Riley, the coach of North Carolina Courage, that started it all. This 58-year-old Englishman is accused of sexual assault by two players, accusations he formally disputes. Last week, another NWSL coach Richie Burke, who led the Washington Spirit team, who was also sacked after an investigation into charges of verbal and moral harassment.
“The League has been informed many times of these allegations and refused to investigate”, regretted, after these announcements, the American international Alex Morgan, who knows the profile of Paul Riley for having played under his orders. Just like Megan Rapinoe who also denounced the management of this file by football authorities: “Protect your players. Do whatever it takes at the NWSL, she tweeted Morgan. Men protect other men who assault women. We must burn everything. Their heads must fall. “