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AGs Call for Changes to Combat Abuse and Harassment in Women’s Pro Soccer

  • Illinois AG Kwame Raoul and New York AG Letitia James wrote a letter to the Commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), as well as the CEO and President of the U.S. Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer), expressing alarm over the conclusions of an independent investigation into the organizations that was conducted by King & Spalding. The recently released investigative report alleges incidents of sexual misconduct, harassment, and abuse by coaches in the NWSL that were not addressed by either the NWSL or U.S. Soccer when brought to their attention.
  • In the letter, the AGs note that the numerous incidents of workplace misconduct alleged in the report violate state laws protecting against harassment in the workplace, including the Illinois Human Rights Act and the New York State Human Rights Law. The NWSL and U.S. Soccer are currently headquartered in Illinois, and numerous incidents in the investigative report were alleged to have occurred in Illinois and New York.
  • The AGs state that they support the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the investigative report designed to protect players, enhance transparency, and hold wrongdoers accountable. The AGs request NWSL and U.S. Soccer provide them with information regarding how the organizations plan to implement the recommendations in the report, including a detailed timeline for implementation, by February 1, 2023.