U.S. football game calls Hope Solo comments at Rio Games 'unacceptable'

U.S. football game calls Hope Solo comments at Rio Games 'unacceptable'

Goalkeeper Hope Solo has been suspended six months from the national team for what U.S. football game referred to as "conduct that's counter to the organization's principles."

After the u. s. was eliminated from the Rio Olympics earlier this month during a penalty combat, the 35-year-old Solo criticized the winning Scandinavian nation team, line it "a bunch of cowards." 

"The comments by Hope Solo when the match against Scandinavian nation throughout the 2016 Olympics we have a tendency tore unacceptable and don't meet the quality of conduct we need from our National Team players," U.S. football game president Sunil Gulati aforementioned during a statement Wed. "Beyond the athletic arena, and on the far side the results, the Olympics celebrate and represent the ideals of truthful play and respect. we have a tendency to expect all of our representatives to honor those principles, with no exceptions.

"Taking into thought the past incidents involving Hope, also because the personal conversations we've had requiring her to conduct herself during a manner appropriate a U.S. National Team member, U.S. football game determined this can be the acceptable disciplinary action."

U.S. football game additionally terminated Solo's contract once it handed down the suspension, that is effective instantly. she's going to be eligible to sign a brand new contract with the national team in February.

Solo was antecedently suspended for thirty days early in 2015 for conduct concerning an event at the team's coaching camp.

"For seventeen years, I dedicated my life to the U.S. Women's National Team and did the work of a professional jock the sole approach I knew however -- with passion, tenacity, associate degree unrelenting commitment to be the simplest goalkeeper within the world, not only for my country however to elevate the game for succeeding generation of feminine athletes," Solo aforementioned during a statement. "In those commitments, I even have ne'er wavered. And with most additional to convey, i'm saddened by the Federation's call to terminate my contract.

"I couldn't be the player i'm while not being the person i'm, even after I haven't created the simplest selections or aforementioned the correct things. My entire career, I even have solely wished the simplest for this team, for the players and also the women's game, and that i can still pursue these causes with a similar unrelenting passion with that I play the sport."

Hope Solo

Christopher Hanewinckel/USA these days Sports

This is the second suspension U.S. football game has handed to goalkeeper Hope Solo.

Richard Nichols, the chief director of the USWNT Players Association, aforementioned the union can file associate degree attractiveness on Solo's behalf. 

"Given the cited conduct and alleged policy violation, we have a tendency to believe the planned discipline to be excessive, new, disproportionate and a violation of Ms. Solo's amendment rights," Nichols aforementioned. "We additionally question whether or not this action would ever are taken against a male player or coach, who, within the heated moments when a frustrating defeat, questioned the ways of the opposing team. unnecessary to mention, we are going to file associate degree attractiveness on Ms. Solo's behalf."

The U.S. Olympic team dominated possession against Scandinavian nation within the match match in Rio and finished with twenty seven shots, however Scandinavian nation scored on a counterattack in regulation -- one amongst solely 2 shots on goal it had within the game. when taking part in to a 1-1 stalemate over one hundred twenty minutes, Scandinavian nation edged the U.S. 4-3 within the combat.

Solo did not wait and see in her comments after. 

"I thought that we have a tendency to compete a spunky game," Solo aforementioned. "I thought that we have a tendency to had several opportunities on goal. i feel we have a tendency to showed loads of heart. we have a tendency to came back from a goal down. i am terribly pleased with this team.

"I additionally suppose we have a tendency to compete a bunch of cowards. But, you know, the simplest team failed to win these days. I strongly, firmly believe that. i feel you saw America's heart. You saw United States provide everything that we have a tendency to had these days. sadly, the higher team did not win."

Sweden coach herbaceous plant Sundhage, World Health Organization had coached the U.S. team to gold medals throughout the Peking and London Games, replied by saying: "It's alright to be a coward if you win.''

Solo was a lightning rod throughout the Olympic tournament, irking fans in Brazil once she denote a photograph of herself lined with dipteran netting and armed with insectifuge on social media. Fans booed her pitilessly and hollered "Zika!'' anytime she kicked down. Then she caused a stir together with her "cowards" comment.

Solo has created headlines throughout her career. She has vocally advocated for women's rights. Solo was among the U.S. players World Health Organization filed a criticism with the U.S. Equal Employment chance Commission for wage discrimination, language the wash room national team players are paid far more than several on the women's team, that for years has outperformed the U.S. men on the international stage.

More recently, she has immersed higher conditions for players within the National Women's football game League.

She has additionally been attempting to avoid an effort on infraction violence charges when a 2014 incident at her sister's home, once the goalkeeper was defendant of being intoxicated and assaulting her sister and then-17-year-old kinsman. Solo aforementioned she was a victim within the words.

Earlier this year, associate degree judicature in Washington state rejected Solo's request to avoid trial.

Solo presently is taking part in for the urban center Reign of the NWSL. They resume their season weekday. 

Alyssa Naeher is that the solely alternative goalie presently on the USWNT listing. 

Information from The Associated Press was employed in this report.