U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati on Friday "defended the federation's investigation" into domestic violence accusations against women's national team G Hope Solo in a letter sent to U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), according to ESPNW.com. Blumenthal "had blasted U.S. Soccer in a letter Thursday," and Gulati "responded by calling suggestions that his organization failed to investigate the accusations against Solo 'inaccurate' and detailed the steps the federation took while looking into the matter." Gulati said that the USSF was "able to obtain only a redacted, 26-page version of the 52-page police report on the incident involving Solo." He added that in addition to obtaining the police report, the USSF "interviewed Solo, who 'quite vehemently' cited self-defense in the incident, which led to her arrest." Gulati did acknowledge that U.S. Soccer "chose not to interview the alleged victims." Gulati said that federation officials "made that decision based on inconsistencies in their statements to police and officials' understanding that the accusers 'would likely contradict Ms. Solo's version.'" He added that U.S. Soccer has "recently adopted a more formalized process for investigations." Gulati: "Rest assured that the Federation considers domestic and family violence a very serious matter" (ESPNW.com, 6/12). But Blumenthal on Saturday called U.S. Soccer's explanation "tone deaf" and "nonsensical." He said, "Most striking in this response is the use of the term 'he said, she said.' Most commonly, that's the reason given by prosecutors for failing to take effective action in domestic violence cases. That comment reveals a mindset that is part of a culture that fails to successfully prosecute domestic violence." Blumenthal said that he is "still considering his next course of action." Blumenthal: "I hope to continue to pursue this issue, after the tournament if not now" (USATODAY.com, 6/13).
SOLIDIFYING THE BACK LINE? In N.Y., Jere Longman noted the USSF on Friday "mounted a detailed defense of its actions and of its decision not to suspend Solo." The USSF said that it did not suspend Solo "because it believed the statements made by the relatives she was accused of assaulting were inconsistent." Gulati wrote in his letter that on the "advice of counsel, the federation let the criminal charges play out." Longman noted Gulati's letter "did not address" why the U.S. team "chose to continue using Solo as its starting goalkeeper rather than benching her until the matter was resolved" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/13). Also in N.Y., Filip Bondy cited a source as saying that Gulati "warned Solo’s attorney that the keeper would be banned from the World Cup if she were found guilty of the charges, or if she made a plea deal, or pleaded no contest." In order to "retain her eligibility, Solo needed to be found not guilty, or charges would have to be dropped -- which is what happened, although there is now an attempt to prosecute her anew" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/14).
POINT, COUNTERPOINT: YAHOO SPORTS' Eric Adelson wrote the USSF "took an important and laudable step on Friday, offering more transparency" into its review of Solo's incident. What was "also transparent, though, was a pattern that has shown in other responses to domestic violence: a too-quick belief in the athlete, and a much more dismissive view of those accusing that athlete." This has "become a common mistake." U.S. Soccer "did what many NFL teams have done in domestic violence situations -- cling to a player's behavior in a professional setting as a way of believing that behavior will always carry over to a personal setting" (
SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/13). USA TODAY's Nancy Armour wrote the "most disheartening thing" about Solo's case is the "eclipse-like effect it's having on the World Cup, the U.S. team in particular." At a tournament with "one good story after another, hers is the only one everyone knows," which is "a pity" (
USATODAY.com, 6/13). ESPN’s Pablo Torre said it “would be nice” if watching the U.S. women’s World Cup Team play in Canada “weren’t a test of conscience.” Torre: "You wonder about the instinctive reasons our country responds differently to a woman allegedly committing domestic violence instead of a man. U.S. Soccer, predictably, is standing behind Hope Solo. She’s too good at her job to bench, and that dynamic amid new controversy is at least familiar. It makes enjoying this sport exactly as awkward as enjoying all the rest” (
“The Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 6/14). In N.Y., Bob Raissman named the USSF his "dweeb of the week," as it has "let down its constituency ... by its non-action" in the Solo case (
N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/14).
GENDER EQUALITY: In L.A., Bill Plaschke wrote under the header, "U.S. Women's Soccer Team Still Has A Long Way To Go On Equality Scale." The USWNT is "one of the most powerful and enduring athletic operations in this country." Yet its "biggest victory still awaits, that being the day it can compete on a worldwide stage and be viewed with the same respect -- and scrutiny -- as the men." The women are "still viewed differently, more like a cute sideshow than a group of serious athletes whose representation of this country is vital and whose national impact is real" (L.A. TIMES, 6/14).
