An independent investigation into allegations of wrongdoing in American women’s football has found “systematic” abuse and sexual misconduct, according to a report issued Monday.
An investigation by former Attorney General Sally Yates and the law firm King & Spaulding revealed verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct, including a pattern of sexually shaped comments, touching and forced sexual contact.
The 172-page report included interviews with more than 200 NFL players, including many on the US national teams, and detailed patterns of abuse by coaches ranging from manipulation to retaliation against those who filed complaints.
“Our investigation revealed a tournament in which abuse and misconduct, verbal, emotional and sexual misconduct, has become a systemic practice for many teams, coaches and victims,” Yates wrote.
She saw that the players who came forward to tell their stories, showed great courage, and added: It is now time for the institutions that failed them in the past, to listen to the players and implement the meaningful reform that the players deserve.
The report found that teams, league officials and the NFL repeatedly failed to respond appropriately when confronted with reports and evidence of abuse by players.
And it followed: They failed to take basic measures to prevent and address abuse despite some officials under the table acknowledging the need to protect the workplace.
Federation president Cindy Barlow Kohn, a former player on the women’s national team who took charge in 2020 and began the investigation a year ago, said measures had already begun to prevent such abuses from happening again.
“The results of this investigation are heartbreaking and very worrying,” Kun said. The abuse described is unjustifiable and has no place in any stadium, training facility or workplace, stressing: The US Soccer Federation is fully committed to doing everything within its power to ensure that all players, at all levels, have a safe and respectful place to learn, grow and compete .