There’s nothing like being on the receiving end of a knee high tackle from your own federation. That, however, is what the US women’s national team are dealing with at the World Cup – and it’s threatening to derail their charge for glory.
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Events unfolding in Canada are being feverishly watched with Team USA in search of a first world title since 1999. Yet, not for the first time, the wonderful people who gallivant through the corridors of power have unnecessarily created a backdrop of controversy which could have been avoided.
The problems centre around Hope Solo, the best female goalkeeper in the world. She is playing when she should be suspended.
The 33 year-old, no stranger to controversy, was charged with assault following an incident with her half-sister Tracy Obert and teenage nephew last June. Solo spent a night in jail and although the case was eventually dismissed on procedural grounds in January, an ESPN investigation this week revealed prosecutors have appealed for it to reopen. Some sycophants believe the timing of the programme on the eve of the finals was scheduled to ensure maximum impact. Others dismiss it as a ‘non-story’, an attempt by one rival broadcaster to hurt another (the World Cup is being screened by ESPN’s rivals Fox).
Yet new evidence – US soccer insist they only saw a redacted 26 pages of the 52 page original police report – screams the complete opposite. It claims verbal abuse was hurled towards officials on the scene by a drunken Solo while also stating the nephew’s T-shirt was torn, his arms were scratched and his ear was bleeding. Solo pleaded not guilty to two counts of misdemeanour domestic violence but prosecutors have filed an appeal and arguments are set to begin on July 13. Crucially, as it stands, she hasn’t been totally admonished of allegations, which include brutally attacking her nephew, slamming his head on the floor before angrily turning on Obert.
Naturally, Solo has her own version of events “The facts have been surfaced. I have been cleared, I am the victim” she insisted on ABC’s Good Morning America in February. That enraged Obert. At first she tried to protect Solo – now, though she wanted the truth to come out so teamed up with ESPN to give her side of this sorry tale. At this point US Soccer, all too aware of the aftershocks which are still being felt following Ray Rice’s despicable public assault of his then fiancée, should have acted.
Despite its chronic mishandling, at least NFL commissioner Roger Goodell held himself accountable. Sunil Gulati, the president and a man who has been bleating about openness and transparency in the wake of the FIFA scandal, should have done the same and suspended the 33 year-old. Instead they released the meekest of statements a disgraceful three months AFTER the initial decision to stop the case.
Shout out to feminists who boycotted the NFL for its handling of domestic violence cases but are cheering for Hope Solo today
— The Illuminati (@TheEyeOfControl) June 9, 2015
They never spoke to Obert either Gulati hasn’t been seen in Canada. What the hell is he doing? He’d have known this would come back to haunt the team at exactly the wrong time. What kind of message does it send out to children proudly wearing Hope Solo goalkeeper’s shirts this summer? Naturally, heads are being buried in the sand. The slightest mention of the incident ends interviews in an instant. It all reeks of a desperation to win the World Cup. After all, if the accused was a third choice right-back, would we be having this conversation? Some people have had enough.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a vociferous critic of Rice, wrote a lengthy letter to Gulati this week demanding a full investigation. “If reports are correct, U.S. Soccer’s approach to domestic violence and family violence in this instance is at best superficial and at worst dangerously neglectful and self-serving,” he wrote. “What kind of message are they sending out?” Gulati responded by defending his stance, insisting he abhors domestic violence. But it’s too late. Solo is a divisive figure – publicly slamming team-mates while coming across as selfish and arrogant. “She is a piece of work,” said former coach Pia Sundhage. US Soccer, and Gulati, have a lot to answer for.
