NWSL League | Players are interrupting the match to denounce sexual harassment

The protagonists of this championship meeting stopped the game, holding themselves, hand in a circle, inside the central circle. They did so in the sixth minute, symbolizing how many years it took to find out the alleged actions of former North Carolina coach Paul Riley, who was fired last week after two men were charged with sexual harassment. Players.

Sinead Farrelly testified in an article on the site that the athlete was forced into relationships when she played under her orders at Philadelphia Independence. And along with our Shim, on another occasion, they also mentioned that when Riley was training with Portland Thorns in 2015, he was forced to kiss her in his apartment.

The allegations prompted FIFA to launch an investigation, which shook the NWSL, as they resigned amid criticism of Commissioner Lisa Byrd’s inaction. Like Washington Spirit President Steve Baldwin, despite his decision to remove team coach Richie Burke following allegations of verbal and moral harassment, he has not forgotten the lengthy passive handling of the case.

According to the Players’ Association (NWSLPA), this interruption of the match was done as a sign of “solidarity” with the victims of abuse. “Tonight, we will occupy our place on the field because we will not allow our happiness to be taken away from us,” they said, refusing to play last weekend.

Two more games were played on Wednesday and there were similar interruptions to play, between North Carolina Courage and Racing Louisville Carrie, NC, and the Portland Thorns and Houston Dash in Oregon.

In its press release, the players’ association outlined a list of proposals that each coach and general manager would submit to an independent investigation into abusive behavior. The NWSLPA on Sunday demanded that the league extend the public hearing to its 12 clubs, as well as its staff.