Players bash U.S. Soccer
Stars sign letter criticizing handling of alleged abuse by former coach
and were among players from the U.S. national team who signed a letter criticizing U.S. Soccer for its handling of complaints against former Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames.
Dames has been accused of misconduct stretching back decades when he was a youth team coach, well before he joined the National Women’s Soccer League team, according to a report The Washington Post published Tuesday.
The accusations included verbal and emotional abuse and other inappropriate behavior. An elite youth player, who was not named by the Post, also claimed that Dames groomed her for a sexual encounter once she turned 18. A lawyer for Dames denied the claims in the story.
The players’ letter was sent Wednesday to U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone, as well as former president Carlos Cordeiro. Both are again candidates for the post, with the election set for March 5.
“Over the years, while we played on the USWNT and in the National Women’s Soccer League, many of us reported to USSF instances
where, as adults, we experienced abusive conduct by our coaches,” the letter said. “Now we have learned that this abusive treatment also was repeatedly reported by minors and that USSF failed to respond to protect these young players. That is utterly disheartening.”
Dames was investigated by police in Arlington Heights, Illinois, in 1998 after a former player said he inappropriately touched her when she was underage. The investigation was dropped because no formal complaint was filed.
“Mr. Dames has a reputation as an excellent soccer coach over 25 years of coaching thousands of soccer players. With the exception of a few players disgruntled for one reason or another, the vast majority of players have thanked Mr. Dames for investing in them as players,” attorney Susan Bogart told the Post in response to the allegations.
Dames was one of five coaches in the NWSL who stepped down or were fired last season for misconduct.
CLARK LOANED TO RED BULLS
Caden Clark’s switch to RB
Leipzig is being delayed.
The 18-year-old American midfielder was loaned to the New York Red Bulls for the 2022 Major League Soccer season on Wednesday by sister club RB Leipzig, a deal that included an option to extend.
Clark signed with the German club in June, agreeing to a contract through 2024, then was loaned back to the MLS team through the rest of the 2021 season.
Jesse Marsch was New York’s coach from 2015-18 and was Leipzig’s coach from the start of the 2021-22 season until he was fired in December.
PIRATES KNOCK OFF XAVIER
Jared Rhoden scored 25 points to lead Seton Hall past No. 25 Xavier 73-71 in Newark.
Alexis Yetna added 12 points for the Pirates (15-7, 6-6 Big East), who have won three straight games.
Jack Nunge led the Musketeers (16-7, 6-6) with 22 points, and Paul Scruggs had 21. Xavier has lost two in a row.
Seton Hall led by 10 at halftime but the margin was trimmed to 42-41 on Scruggs’ layup with 14:25 remaining. The Pirates responded by outscoring the Musketeers 13-4 over the next 4:34.
CANADIENS CAN COACH
The Montreal Canadiens have fired head coach Dominique Ducharme.
The 48-year-old was relieved of his duties Wednesday after Montreal began its season with a dismal 8-30-7 record for a league-worst 23 points. His dismissal comes in the wake of a 7-1 rout by the Devils on Tuesday. The Devils had lost seven straight.
The Canadiens went 23-4614 record in 83 regular-season games under Ducharme — and 13-6 in postseason play, making the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1993.