The Chicago Red Stars announced Wednesday the club has voted to remove Arnim Whisler as chairman of the board amid the findings of an investigation that discovered systemic emotional abuse and sexual misconduct in the National Women’s Soccer League.
The Red Stars’ Board of Directors issued a statement confirming that the vote to remove Whisler, the team’s majority owner, from the board took place earlier in the day. The board also agreed to transition him “out of his board seat immediately with the Chicago Red Stars (Chicago Women's Soccer Academy, LLC) and to codify his removal from any further participation with either club or board operations.”
The decision to remove Whisler follows a bombshell 48 hours for the NWSL after the results of an independent investigation focusing on misconduct allegations involving three former coaches, including ex-Red Stars manager Rory Dames, were released on Monday; the coaches were among five former managers fired after last season due to the allegations. The investigation was commissioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation, and led by former acting U.S. attorney general Sally Q. Yates and the law firm King & Spalding.
