The North American Women’s Football League (NWSL), shaken by allegations of sexual misconduct against a coach, and denounced for its inaction, decided on Friday that its league matches scheduled for this weekend would not be played.–
The 21st day of the women’s soccer championship will wait. The North American Football League, through its commissioner Lisa Baird, has decided to postpone the championship matches scheduled for this weekend. The move, made in agreement with the Players Union (NWSLPA), comes the day after North Carolina Courage club sacked coach Paul Riley, who faces allegations of sexual misconduct, including reports of sexual misconduct. strengths.
Two former club players, Sinead Farrelly and Meleana “Mana” Shim, told the site The Athletic having had to face several times, since 2010, the alleged inappropriate behavior of this 58-year-old Englishman, whose coaching license was also suspended Thursday by the American Football Federation. Sinead Farrelly, who played under his command in three different teams, in different leagues, accused him of having forced her to “Forced sex”, when he was at the head of Philadelphia Independence, in particular one evening when she went to her hotel room, following a loss in the final of a competition. After which Riley reportedly told him: “We take this to our graves.”
Farrelly and Shim also claimed that on another occasion, when Riley was coaching them with the Portland Thorns, he forced them to kiss in his apartment. Riley disputed these allegations “Completely false” with the media: “I never had sexual relations with these players, nor made them sexual advances”, defended the technician of 58 years.
The league singled out for its inaction
“This week, and much of this season, has been incredibly traumatic for our players and staff, and I take full responsibility for the role I have played. I’m so sorry for the pain so many people are feeling, assured Lisa Baird this Friday. Aware of this trauma, we decided not to go to the field this weekend in order to give everyone the opportunity to reflect. Day-to-day business is not our concern at the moment. Our league has a lot to fix, and our players deserve so much better. ”
The press release and the postponement should help to extinguish the controversy a little, while reactions of indignation and anger have flocked in recent hours, with some players denouncing in particular the passivity of the NSWL. “The league has been informed multiple times and each time refused to investigate. She must accept responsibility for a process that has failed to protect her own players from this abuse. I am disgusted. Protect your players, do what’s right, NWSL ”, thus affirmed on Twitter the American international Alex Morgan, who played under the orders of Riley at the same time as the two accusers in Portland, confirming their allegations.
