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Lisa Baird has been criticized for handling allegations of sexual misconduct against the head coach. She has resigned from her position as a committee member of the top professional women’s football league in the United States.
Baird’s decision was announced in a statement posted on the Twitter account of the National Women’s Football League on Friday, just a few hours after she said that NWSL will cancel games across the United States this weekend.
“Friday’s National Women’s Football League has received and accepted Lisa Baird’s resignation as president,” the league said.
According to ESPN, the American sports broadcaster, the decision to fire Baird was made by the league’s board of directors. No replacement was announced.
Baird’s resignation was the second day after the North Carolina Courage team sacked employer coach Paul Riley, and the team called it a “very serious allegation of misconduct.”
“This week and most of this season, it has been incredibly traumatic for our players and staff. I am fully responsible for the role I play,” Baird said before resigning earlier on Friday. Express.
She added in a statement: “I am very sorry for the pain so many people feel.”
“Recognizing this trauma, we decided not to participate in the competition this weekend to give everyone some room for reflection.”
Baird was appointed as NWSL Commissioner in February 2020, succeeding Amanda Duffy.
Riley’s dismissal was fired after The Athletic website detailed the 58-year-old Englishman’s extensive sexual misconduct in multiple teams and leagues since 2010.
Riley is the second NWSL coach to be fired this week after the league terminated the contract of Washington mental coach Rich Burke after investigating allegations of verbal and emotional abuse.
American internationals Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe are among the players criticizing the league’s handling of Riley’s allegations.
“Bottom line: protect your players. Do the right thing NWSL,” Morgan wrote on Twitter.
“Men, protect men, abuse women. I repeat, men, protect men, they abuse women,” Rapinoe wrote on Twitter.
“Burn it all. Let all their heads roll.”
(1/3) The alliance has been informed of these allegations many times and has repeatedly refused to investigate these allegations. The league must take responsibility for the process of failing to protect its players from such abuse. https://t.co/KDRBhhVBcT
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) September 30, 2021
‘A mode’
According to The Athletic, players Sinead Farrelly and Meleana “Mana” Shim have filed charges against Riley for misconduct.
Farrelly has played for Riley on three different teams in different leagues. He accused Riley of “sexual coercion” during her time as her coach for the Philadelphia Independents.
She said that after losing in the 2011 Women’s Professional Football League final, she was forced to have sex with Riley after going to Riley’s hotel room. Riley allegedly told her, “We are going to take it into the grave.”
In another incident during his tenure with the Portland Thorns, Farrelly and Sim said that Riley forced them to kiss each other in his apartment.
“This guy has a pattern,” Shim told The Athletic.
Morgan, who also played under Riley, confirmed the players’ allegations and said she had tried to help them submit a report to the league.
“The league has been informed of these allegations several times and has repeatedly refused to investigate,” Morgan said. “The league must take responsibility for the process of failing to protect its players from this kind of abuse.”
In a statement to The Athletic, Riley denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations “completely untrue.”
“I have never had sexual relations with these players, nor have I sexually teased these players,” he said.
NWSLPA, the league’s player union, said on Twitter that “systematic abuse” is “plaguing NWSL.”
NWSLPA said: “Words cannot fully express our anger, pain, sadness and disappointment.”
On Thursday, Baird stated that the league is implementing a new anonymous reporting procedure for players, teams and league staff.
FIFA announced that it has contacted NWSL and the American Football Association as part of an ongoing “preliminary investigation.”
“FIFA is deeply concerned about the recent reports of several players in the United States. Due to the seriousness and seriousness of the allegations made by the players, we can confirm that FIFA’s judiciary is actively investigating the matter,” FIFA said.
“FIFA’s position is clear: anyone found guilty of football misconduct and abuse will be brought to justice, sanctioned and expelled from the game.”
The American football team, which helped establish NWSL in 2012, said it is launching its own investigation.
“We take our responsibilities seriously, vigorously investigate the reported abominable behavior, and fully and frankly understand the factors that caused it to happen, and what changes should be made to ensure that it does not happen again,” the alliance said.
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