The United States women’s national team joined arms with England for a moment of solidarity in honor of victims of sexual abuse Friday ahead of their international friendly match in London.
Players from both countries gathered in the center circle inside the iconic Wembley Stadium before the match wearing teal armbands and carrying a banner that read “PROTECT THE PLAYERS.” The players held the banner while taking a picture on the pitch while the lights along the stadium’s arch were lit in teal.
The USWNT is currently in Europe for a two-game tour, which will continue against Spain on Oct. 11 at El Sadar Stadium in Pamplona.
Friday’s poignant gesture follows a tumultuous week in the National Women’s Soccer League in the wake of a bombshell investigation that uncovered systemic emotional abuse and sexual misconduct throughout the league. The results of the probe were released Monday and have already resulted in the dismissal of several high-ranking executives among various NWSL teams.
Commissioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation and led by former acting U.S. attorney general Sally Q. Yates, the independent investigation focused on misconduct allegations involving three former coaches: Paul Riley, a former Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage coach, former Racing Louisville coach Christy Holly and former Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames. All three were among five NWSL coaches, along with OL Reign’s Farid Benstiti and the Spirit’s Richie Burke, who were fired in 2021 due to the allegations.
Earlier this week, the Thorns and Red stars announced front office changes stemming from the results of the report. Thorns president of soccer and general manager Gavin Wilkinson and president of business Mike Golub were dismissed Wednesday—a day after owner Merritt Paulson stepped down. Additionally, Chicago announced Wednesday that its board of directors voted to remove Arnim Whisler as chairman.
USWNT star Megan Rapinoe, who played with the Red Stars before Dames’s tenure and has been with OL Reign since 2013, spoke at length about the report Thursday, calling for the removal of Paulson and Whisler.
“I think it’s essential, obviously, those people are in positions that have responsibilities and they didn’t fulfill those responsibilities,” Rapinoe said, via Taylor Vincent of She Plays. “They didn’t protect the players at all. None of those people have shown that they deserve to be around this beautiful game and, have a right to be, because they can’t even do the basic responsibilities of their job.”
“I don’t think Merritt Paulson is fit to be the owner of that team. I don’t think Arnim is fit to be the owner of Chicago. We need to see those people gone.”
