No Hope for six months
Team USA women’s soccer goalkeeper Hope Solo has been slapped with a six-month ban from the national team for calling Swedish players “a bunch of cowards” in a television interview, US Soccer announced on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old Solo made the comments after the Americans were eliminated from the Rio Olympics in a penalty shootout on Aug 12.
“The comments by Hope Solo after the match against Sweden during the 2016 Olympics were unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we require from our national team players,” US Soccer president Sunil Gulati said in a statement.
“Beyond the athletic arena, and beyond the results, the Olympics celebrate and represent the ideals of fair play and respect. We expect all of our representatives to honor those principles, with no exceptions.”
Solo wasn’t backing down on Wednesday and defended her “coward” comments by saying the suspension wasn’t warranted.
“I am saddened by the federation’s decision to terminate my contract,” Solo told Sports Illustrated.
“I could not be the player I am without being the person I am, even when I haven’t made the best choices or said the right things.”
Solo said she plays and speaks with passion and is trying to be an example for future US female players.
“I did the job of a pro athlete the only way I know how— with passion, tenacity, an unrelenting commitment to be the best goaltender in the world and to elevate the sport for the next generation of female athletes,” Sports Illustrated quoted her as saying.
This is not the first time Solo has been suspended. She was banned for 30 days in 2015 after an incident at one of the national team’s training camps.
“Taking into consideration the past incidents involving Hope, as well as the private conversations we’ve had requiring her to conduct herself in a manner befitting a Team USA member, US Soccer determined this is the appropriate disciplinary action.”
Solo referred to the Swedish players as “cowards” after the world champion Americans’ bid for a fourth straight Olympic gold ended in the quarterfinals.
“We played a bunch of cowards,” Solo said during a postgame television interview
“The better team did not win today. I strongly believe that. I don’t think they’re going to make it far in the tournament.”
Solo made the comments because she felt the Swedes played too defensively.
The loss was Team USA’s first in 15 games at the Olympics, and only their third ever in Games history.
The US has won four golds and a silver since women’s soccer was added to the Olympic program.
US Soccer said in its media release that Solo won’t be eligible to try out for the national team again until next February.