Over 100 U.S. soccer players, including the entire Women's World Cup team, have appealed to Congress to enhance the U.S. Center for SafeSport, the organization responsible for safeguarding athletes from abuse. In a letter to the Senate and House of Representatives, the U.S. Soccer Athletes Council emphasized the need for a secure environment for athletes to flourish, advocating for a more efficient and effective reporting system. The players expressed their commitment to working with Congress and governing bodies to implement necessary changes to ensure player safety and protection.
This action follows a significant abuse and misconduct scandal that shook the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). In 2021, allegations against coach Paul Riley led to his dismissal and a subsequent ban from the league. This incident triggered investigations revealing a systemic culture of misconduct within the NWSL, prompting recommendations for improved player safety. While many of these recommendations have been implemented, the U.S. Soccer investigation, overseen by former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates, advised against relying solely on SafeSport due to concerns about its slow response times.
The players' letter criticizes SafeSport for administratively closing numerous cases without a clear resolution, leaving victims without closure and potentially allowing abusers to return to the sport. They also point out that SafeSport's exclusive jurisdiction prevents U.S. Soccer from independently investigating or addressing such cases.
Established in 2017 after numerous abuse allegations across Olympic sports, SafeSport is tasked with investigating these cases. The players acknowledge the organization's important intentions but argue that it is currently failing to achieve its goals. They highlight the Yates report's findings of flaws within SafeSport's processes, emphasizing their reliance on the organization for reform while simultaneously expressing concerns about its effectiveness.
