Multiple players in the academy of Major League Soccer club Austin FC are under investigation by Austin police and the FBI over allegations of sexual abuse within the club’s youth system. Multiple sources, who spoke to the Guardian on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation, said the inquiry centers on alleged interactions between academy players. A source with knowledge of the matter said multiple academy families reported the allegations to Austin FC.
The Austin police department confirmed the existence of the investigation to the Guardian on Thursday, adding that because it “involves juveniles and is ongoing”, no other details could be shared. An FBI spokesperson said the bureau could “neither confirm nor deny” the existence of an investigation and declined to comment further. Sources at MLS and Austin FC confirmed the existence of the Austin police department and the FBI’s investigations.
