An independent investigation into scandals that rocked the US National Women’s Soccer League last season found emotional abuse and sexual misconduct were systemic, affecting several teams, coaches and players, according to a report released on Monday.
“Abuse in the NWSL is rooted in a deeper culture in women’s soccer, beginning in youth leagues, that normalises verbally abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players,” former deputy US attorney general Sally Yates wrote in her findings.
US Soccer commissioned the investigation by Ms Yates after former NWSL players Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim came forward with allegations of harassment and sexual coercion dating back a decade involving former coach Paul Riley.
Their account was published by The Athletic last year.
Riley, who denied the allegations, was quickly fired as head coach of the North Carolina Courage, and NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird stepped down.
Five of the 10 head coaches in the NWSL last season either were fired or resigned amid allegations of misconduct.
“The players affected are not shrinking violets. They are among the best athletes in the world,” Ms Yates wrote.
More than 200 people were interviewed by investigators. About two dozen entities and people provided documents.
US Soccer also provided documents and the firm reviewed 89,000 deemed likely to be relevant.
US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone called the findings “heart-breaking and deeply troubling”.
“The abuse described is inexcusable and has no place on any playing field, in any training facility or workplace,” Ms Parlow Cone said.
The report made recommendations to give priority to player health and safety.
Among them is the requirement that teams accurately disclose coach misconduct to the league and the federation to ensure coaches are not allowed to move between teams.
“We recognise the anxiety and mental strain that these pending investigations have caused and the trauma that many — including players and staff — are having to relive," NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said.
"We continue to admire their courage in coming forward to share their stories and influence all the changes necessary to keep moving our league forward."
The investigation focused on three former coaches — Riley, Christy Holly of Racing Louisville and Rory Dames of the Chicago Red Stars.
It recounts an April 2021 encounter between Holly and a player, Erin Simon, who now plays in Europe.
Holly invited her to watch game video with him and allegedly told her that for every pass she messed up, he was going to touch her.
Simon told investigators that Holly “pushed his hands down her pants and up her shirt”.
Simon, 28, now with Leicester City, said too many athletes suffer in silence because they are afraid they will not be heard.
“I know because that is how I felt,” she said. “Through many difficult days, my faith alone sustained me and kept me going.
"This report allows our voices to finally be heard and is the first step toward achieving the respectful workplace we all deserve.”
Holly's contract was terminated but Racing Louisville declined to publicly state the reason.
Farrelly said the harassment she experienced began in 2011 when she was a player with the Philadelphia Independence of the Women’s Professional Soccer league. Riley was her coach.
She told The Athletic the abuse by Riley continued when she was with the Portland Thorns in 2014 and 2015.
Shim, a former Thorns player, also said she experienced harassment. Neither woman is playing in the NWSL now.
The Thorns said they investigated Riley in 2015 while he was with the team and reported the findings to the league. They did not renew his contract but did not make the reasons public.
The report said the Thorns were not forthcoming with certain information and they tried to prevent investigators from using the team’s 2015 report.
“The Portland Thorns interfered with our access to relevant witnesses and raised specious legal arguments in an attempt to impede our use of relevant documents,” Ms Yates wrote.
Riley went on to coach the Western New York Flash, which later moved to North Carolina and was renamed.
When the scandal broke last year, former Thorns forward Alex Morgan, posted on social media: “The league must accept responsibility for a process that failed to protect its own players from this abuse.”
Morgan also said Shim and Farrelly asked the NWSL last year for a new investigation into Riley’s behaviour but were rebuffed.
Saudi women’s football team to play first match at home - in pictures
Miguel Cotto world titles:
WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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