October 01, (THEWILL) – Following claims of sexual harassment and misconduct, the North Carolina Courage have fired British coach Paul Riley. The Athletic reported on the allegations, which include claims of sexual coercion dating back more than a decade, after interviewing more than a dozen players Riley has coached since 2010.
“In light of today’s reports, the North Carolina Courage have terminated Head Coach Paul Riley, effective immediately, following serious allegations of misconduct,” the team said in a statement.
“The Courage support the players who have come forward and we commend them for bravely sharing their stories. The North Carolina Football Club is united together in our commitment to creating a safe, positive, and respectful environment, not only within our club but across the league and our great sport.
“As previously stated, players and staff are encouraged to report any inappropriate behavior in accordance with NWSL policy as we prioritize efforts to maintain the highest professional standards of conduct throughout our organization.”
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is reporting the claims to the US Centre for SafeSport, according to Lisa Baird, the league’s commissioner.
Baird said in the statement: “A safe and secure work environment is a top priority for the league and its collective ownership. The league has in place a comprehensive anti-harassment/anti-discrimination policy.”
“We are implementing a new anonymous reporting process, whereby players, team and league staff may text concerns to the league, which will be promptly investigated. We ask our players and all associated with the league to raise their concerns to us, as we continue to make our league a safe, positive, and respectful environment for our players, clubs, staff, and fans.”
Former NWSL players Snead Farrelly and Mana Shim spoke to The Athletic about their encounters with Riley. Both claim to have been harassed as players while working with the coach.
Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, both World Cup champions for the United States, are among renowned players who expressed their displeasure on social media.
However, Riley told The Athletic that the charges are “completely untrue.”
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
