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The Portland Thorns have been fined $1 million by the National Women’s Soccer League. League officials said a previously announced pledge by former owner Merritt Paulson to help establish the NWSL Player Safety Authority constitutes the fine.
Paulson said last month that he would sell Thornes “so that the club can operate at league level with a fresh voice”. It says that
Portland Thorns FC celebrate with a trophy after winning their NWSL Championship soccer game against Kansas City Currents on Saturday, October 29, 2022 in Washington, DC. On January 9, 2023, Thornes announced that assistant his coach Mike Norris had been promoted to head his coach. At the same time the league announced that Thornes’ former coach had been banned from the league.
Nick Wass/AP
Additionally, the NWSL has banned former Thorns coach Paul Riley from the league for life.
Year-long NWSL investigation led by former U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates reveals players reported abusive and sexually coerced behavior from Riley to Thornes leadership in 2015 became. Riley walked away and did not alert the other team to the charges. Western New York Flash hired him after Riley lost his job at Thornes.
According to the investigative report, the league had previously heard that Riley was “verbally abusive,” “sexist” and “disruptive” through an anonymous player survey conducted in 2014.
On Monday, the same day the league announced the ban and fine, Thornes assistant coach Mike Norris was introduced as the team’s head coach ahead of the 2023 NWSL season. Head coach.
Former head coach Ryan Wilkinson, who was investigated by the league and ruled out of possible misconduct, resigned in December after revealing that she and another player had expressed feelings for each other. bottom.
The Portland Thorns and Timbers chief executives (football president Gavin Wilkinson and business president Mike Golub) were fired last October following a Yates-led NWSL investigation. Shortly after, Merritt Paulson, owner of both Thorns and Timbers, announced that he was stepping down as CEO of the football club. stay.
Thorns is one of six clubs facing financial penalties, along with Chicago Red Stars, Racing Louisville, North Carolina Clarke, OL Reign and Gotham FC.
The NWSL said in a statement that all fines will only be used to foster organizational change and have a direct and positive impact on the lives of players. This may include building a positive culture, enhancing coaching education and development. The league said it would work with the NWSL Players Association to receive advice and support from outside experts.
Months of controversy was juxtaposed with the Thorns winning their third NWSL championship, making them the first team in the league to win so many championships.
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