An investigation commissioned by the U. Soccer Federation and conducted by former U. It sheds new light on the alleged misconduct by these three coaches, as well as the repeated failures by team owners, U. Soccer officials and others to heed warnings and complaints from players about them. Soccer hired Yates to investigate after a report last year in The Athletic detailed that Riley had been fired by the Portland Thorns in for misconduct, but the Portland Thorns and the league kept the manner of his exit hidden from the public, allowing Riley to quickly be hired by another NWSL team.
Two former Thorns players interviewed on the record recalled that Riley verbally abused and disparaged them, sent them lewd photos, gave them alcohol and sexually harassed them. On one occasion, he allegedly told the players to kiss each other to get out of training drills, and in another, he greeted a player for a game film review session in his underwear before the player quickly left. He was also accused of sexual relationships with players.
Within days of the article, U. Soccer announced it had retained Yates "to lead an independent investigation into allegations of abusive behavior and sexual misconduct in women's professional soccer.
Riley's firing last year was one of five other dismissals of coaches in the league for allegations of abuse. Yates, who specializes in internal and independent investigations, has experience as a federal prosecutor, also serving as the deputy U.
(mh=dxAjNSAI0BROpwL1)1.jpg "Teen girls in Leverkusen")
Soccer cited her "extensive experience conducting complex and highly sensitive investigations" and the "three decades in public service at the Department of Justice under both Republican and Democratic administrations. The report says some teams and individuals did not fully cooperate, despite public statements claiming otherwise. According to the investigators, Racing Louisville "refused to produce documents concerning Christy Holly and would not permit witnesses even former employees to answer relevant questions regarding Holly's tenure, citing non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements it signed with Holly.
