NWSL agrees to $5 million settlement to resolve player abuse probe
Players from across the U.S. top-flight National Women's Soccer League went public in 2021 with allegations of misconduct by coaches and officials dating back over 10 years.
The attorneys general launched a joint investigation into the allegations in 2022, which they said revealed the NWSL was "permeated by a culture of abuse." It also showed some teams did not conduct background checks, which allowed coaches previously terminated for misconduct to be rehired by other teams.
The settlement, which was announced on Wednesday by the attorneys general, requires the NWSL to create a $5 million fund to compensate players and implement league-wide policy changes to improve player safety.
"For too long, the hardworking and talented women of the National Women's Soccer League were forced to endure an unacceptable culture of abuse, harassment, and retaliation," New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, said in a statement.
She said the settlement "sends a clear message that such misconduct will not be tolerated and ensures players receive the compensation and protections they deserve."
With oversight from the attorneys general, the NWSL must also continue to comply with extensive changes to its protocols, including rigorous vetting of prospective coaches and training for players and staff on how to prevent sexual misconduct.
NWSL also faces $2 million in penalties if it fails to comply with any terms of the agreement, the attorneys general said.
The fallout from the allegations engulfed the NWSL and prompted the departure of former Commissioner Lisa Baird and demands for reform, while five of the league's 10 teams parted ways with their head coaches over player complaints before the end of the 2021 season.
U.S. Soccer founded the NWSL in 2012 and operated as manager, providing logistical and financial support, through 2020. It continues to provide oversight over the league.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
England U21 ace Jonathan Rowe backed by Mason Greenwood and Marseille team as Rabiot brawl sees stars transfer listed
Two Premier League clubs are interested in signing Rowe MASE ON THE CASE MASE ON THE CASE England U21 ace Jonathan Rowe backed by Mason Greenwood and Marseille team as Rabiot brawl sees stars transfer listed ENGLAND Under-21s star Jonathan Rowe has been backed by Marseille team-mates over his bust-up with Adrien Rabiot. Both are suspended and have been transfer-listed by the French club. 3 Jonathan Rowe has been transfer listed by Marseille following a clash with Adrien Rabiot Credit: Alamy 3 Mason Greenwood has backed Rowe following the incident Credit: Reuters Advertisement Both are suspended and have been transfer-listed by the French club. The pair clashed in the dressing room after Friday's opening 1-0 Ligue 1 loss at Rennes. Ex-Norwich winger Rowe, 22, now looks increasingly likely to join Bologna. Yet sources claim Rowe, who joined Marseille from the Canaries 12 months ago, did not instigate the row which saw both players come to blows. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL STRIKE OUT England U21 ace 'SUSPENDED after dressing room scrap with World Cup winner' Stunned team-mates who witnessed it included former Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood — and the blame was put on Rabiot. Neither are now training with the first team ahead of Saturday's home clash with Paris FC. Marseille said the pair's punishment was 'due to unacceptable behaviour and in accordance with the club's internal code of conduct'. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Advertisement 3 Rabiot allegedly instigated the clash Credit: Reuters
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Trump weaponization czar urged New York Attorney General James to resign over mortgage probe
President Donald Trump's political weaponization czar sent a letter urging New York Attorney General Letitia James to resign from office 'as an act of good faith' four days after starting his mortgage fraud investigation of her. Then he showed up outside her house. Ed Martin, the director of the Justice Department's Weaponization Working Group, told James' lawyer on Aug. 12 the Democrat would best serve the 'good of the state and nation' by resigning and ending his probe into alleged paperwork discrepancies on her Brooklyn townhouse and a Virginia home. 'Her resignation from office would give the people of New York and America more peace than proceeding," Martin wrote. "I would take this as an act of good faith.' Then last Friday, Martin turned up outside James' Brooklyn townhouse in a 'Columbo'-esque trench coat, accompanied by an aide and New York Post journalists. He didn't meet with James or go inside the building. A Post writer saw him tell a neighbor: 'I'm just looking at houses, interesting houses. It's an important house.' James' lawyer Abbe Lowell shot back on Monday, telling Martin in a letter his blunt request for James' resignation defied Justice Department standards and codes of professional responsibility and legal ethics. The Justice Department 'has firm policies against using investigations and against using prosecutorial power for achieving political ends,' Lowell wrote. 'This is ever more the case when that demand is made to seek political revenge against a public official in the opposite party.' 'Let me be clear: that will not happen here,' Lowell added. Lowell also blasted Martin's visit to James' home as a 'truly bizarre, made-for-media stunt' and said it was 'outside the bounds' of Justice Department rules. He included an image from security camera footage showing Martin, in his trench coat, posing for a photo in front of James' townhouse. He said Martin looked as if he were on a 'visit to a tourist attraction.' The Associated Press obtained copies of both letters on Tuesday. A message seeking comment was left for Martin's spokesperson. James' office declined to comment. The letters were the latest salvos in a monthslong drama involving Trump's retribution campaign against James and others who've battled him in court and fought his policies. James has sued the Republican president and his administration dozens of times and last year won a $454 million judgment against Trump and his companies in a lawsuit alleging he lied about the value of his assets on financial statements given to banks. An appeals court has yet to rule on Trump's bid to overturn that verdict. Earlier this month, the AP reported, the Justice Department subpoenaed James for records related to the civil fraud lawsuit and a lawsuit she filed against the National Rifle Association. Martin's investigation stems from a letter Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi in April asking her to investigate and consider prosecuting James, alleging she had 'falsified bank documents and property records." Pulte, whose agency regulates mortgage financiers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, cited 'media reports' claiming James had falsely listed a Virginia home as her principal residence, and he suggested she may have been trying to avoid higher interest rates that often apply to second homes. Records show James was listed as a co-borrower on a house her niece was buying in 2023. Lowell said records and correspondence easily disproved Pulte's allegation. While James signed a power-of-attorney form that, Lowell said, 'mistakenly stated the property to be Ms. James' principal residence," she sent an email to her mortgage loan broker around the same time that made clear the property 'WILL NOT be my primary residence.' Pulte also accused James of lying in property records about the number of apartments in the Brooklyn townhouse she has owned since 2001. A certificate of occupancy issued to a previous owner authorized up to five units in the building, where James lives and has rented out apartments. Other city records show the townhouse has four units, a number James has listed in building permit applications and mortgage documents. On Aug. 8, Bondi appointed Martin, a former Republican political operative, to investigate. Martin, the current U.S. pardon attorney and former acting U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., is also investigating mortgage fraud allegations against Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Schiff's lawyer called the allegations 'transparently false, stale, and long debunked." Lowell said it appears the working group Martin leads 'is aptly named as it is 'weaponizing'" the Justice Department "to carry out the President's and Attorney General's threats.'
Reuters
6 hours ago
- Reuters
India plans to ban online games played with money, citing addiction risks
NEW DELHI, Aug 19 (Reuters) - India's government plans to ban online games played with money, a proposed bill showed on Tuesday, in what would be a heavy blow for an industry that has attracted billions of dollars of foreign investment. Citing psychological and financial harm it says can be caused by such games, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 says that no person "shall offer, aid, abet, induce or otherwise indulge or engage in" the offering of online money games and such services. The 13-page bill, which has not yet been made public but has been reviewed by Reuters, describes an online money game as one played by a user by depositing money in expectation of winning monetary and other enrichment. The Indian market for such gaming is set to be worth $3.6 billion by 2029, venture capital firm Lumikai says. Endorsements by top Indian cricketers and other marketing efforts have boosted appeal and investor interest of real money gaming apps such as the popular fantasy cricket games operated by startups Dream11 and Mobile Premier League. Dream11 commands a valuation of $8 billion while Mobile Premier League is valued at $2.5 billion, PitchBook data shows. The Indian government has long been concerned about how such games are addictive. India's IT ministry, which has drafted the bill, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. MPL and Dream11 declined to comment. In fantasy cricket games on Dream11, users create their teams by paying as little as 8 rupees (10 U.S. cents), with a total prize pool of 1.2 million Indian rupees ($14,000). The apps become more popular during the Indian Premier League season, one of the world's most popular cricket tournaments. The bill states that anyone who offers such money games could face a jail term of up to three years and a fine. "Such games often use manipulative design features, addictive algorithms ... while promoting compulsive behaviour leading to financial ruin," the bill said.
