The U.S. Soccer Federation, the NWSL and the Seattle Reign have allowed G Hope Solo to continue playing while she awaits a November trial on domestic violence charges, which makes them "tone-deaf when it comes to domestic violence and how they handle players who have been accused of it," according to Juliet Macur of the N.Y. TIMES. Macur writes of NFLers like Greg Hardy and Adrian Peterson not being allowed to play amid domestic violence charges, "If that wouldn’t happen in the NFL, it shouldn’t happen in women’s sports, either." Yet the USSF, "showing that it has no sense regarding this issue, went ahead and gave Solo a very public pat on the back" last week, when she played for the U.S. in a game versus Mexico. On top of NFL issues, a light "needs to shine on Solo’s legal problems, too." Her incident shows that domestic violence "isn’t committed only by men, even if Solo is eventually cleared of the charges against her." The USSF and the Reign "have put on blinders" during this situation, as Solo played on as the team "advanced to the league’s title game last month." The Reign "rationalized their decision to keep her on the field by saying they were gathering evidence on the case." The USSF "is apparently following suit." Macur: "It’s possible to understand the team’s cowardice: A league trying to sustain itself has an incentive to protect its stars. But how does U.S. Soccer rationalize giving Solo the honor of playing for the national team, or of then making her its captain?" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/20).
SOLO IN ITS STANCE? ESPNW.com's Kate Fagan wrote the USSF "is sending the wrong message by allowing Solo to continue playing while she deals with these allegations." Fagan: "Anger knows no gender, nor does domestic violence. U.S. Soccer needs to suspend Solo, and it needs to do so immediately" (ESPNW.com, 9/19). In Philadelphia, John Smallwood wrote when Solo plays with the U.S team, she "represents you, me and every other American on an international stage." If you have "ever attended a match played by the U.S. women's soccer team, you know thousands of girls in the stands scream in adoration." Their passion for their female soccer heroes "is as intense as that for any NFL player." Solo "is one of the USA's biggest stars, and kids are drawn to her." But given the "current climate, how it is OK to showcase Solo to those girl fans -- some of whom unfortunately will become victims of the same domestic abuse she is accused of?" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 9/21).
