Megan Rapinoe, the captain of the United States women’s team, attended the media this Monday in Pamplona at Osasuna Sports City. He did it on the eve of the game that will take place this Tuesday (8.30 p.m., Teledeporte) with Spain from Jorge Vilda against the world champions. Rapinoe, 37, spent 10 minutes answering six questions from six journalists. He did it in the gym sheltered from the rain. She spoke, of course, about the report on abuses in American women’s football – the 300 pages that speak of “systemic abuses” that have been silenced by those who should have been keeping the players safe – and also what the legendary player was about the squad thinks the 15 Spanish internationals who have given up wearing the red jersey.
On the abuses, he said he found the silence maintained by the clubs, the NWSL (the league) and the FA “frustrating, disappointing and appalling”. “They would do it to protect their charges, but I don’t think they can always say they didn’t know how bad the situation was.”
Rapinoe said she did not speak to any of the 15 Spanish players who stopped responding to the national team’s call, but that she heard what happened and assured her that she empathizes with them. “Because they came together in a very respectful way and expressed their concerns about the future and the environment in which they work. We’ve been in this situation many times, so I know how difficult it is to do what they did. You have to stick together. I think they want to be the best team in the world, win championships and keep growing.”
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He believes there is the same problem that exists around the world: “Last year the Ballon d’Or was for a Spaniard [Alexia Putellas], so it’s very sad to see that. But as we have seen in our country and elsewhere, footballers must continue to fight for what seems like the minimum: treatment, equality and respect. When they get everything they need. The point is to further professionalize this sport off the pitch. What is required seems reasonable to me. I hope that the federation can do something, that they try to loosen up a bit and can talk to the players and have an open and honest conversation. And say where you need to improve, and take that criticism constructively to serve as an encouragement. And he added: “There’s still a year to go before the World Cup and it won’t be the same if the Spanish team isn’t at their best.”
United States captain Megan Rapinoe trains with her teammates in Tajonar, Navarra this Monday. PABLO_LASAOSA
The 15 players who sent the mail to the RFEF (Patri Guijarro, Sandra Paños, Claudia Pina, Aitana Bonmatí, Mapi León and Mariona Caldentey, from Barcelona; Ainhoa Moraza and Lola Gallardo, from Atlético; Amaiur Sarriegi and Nerea Eizagirre, from Real Sociedad, Laia Aleixandri and Leila Ouahabi from City, Ona Batlle and Lucía García from United and Andrea Pereira from America) will be joined by Alexia Putellas, who is out through injury. They told the federation on September 22 that they would not attend the national team’s calls until “a situation” which they say has “significantly affected” them in their “emotional state” and in their “health ” impaired. The next day, they sent a statement criticizing the federation for leaking the content of the emails and assuring that they “never” asked for “the coach’s sacking” and never “threatened” the national team to leave permanently”. So far, none of them have commented on the reasons for their decision and their unease.
Luis Rubiales, President of the RFEF, supports Vilda unconditionally. For his part, the technician described the situation as “worldly ridiculous” and assured him that he still has more strength to continue in office. He has called together 15 other players and set out with them on the way to the 2023 World Cup: on Friday in Cordoba he drew 1-1 against Sweden, number three in the world. “We showed that there is a team, a team that has no mental reserves whatsoever.”
Rapinoe wanted to talk about what is happening and has been happening in American women’s soccer for years. Sexual, verbal abuse from the lower classes to the elite. But the spokesman interrupted the media before the third question on the 300-page report just published in the United States. “We have to go to training,” he decided. Rapinoe was asked why the clubs, league and FA have remained silent in the face of player complaints and calls for help. Before the reports and questionnaires that the psychologists had ordered from the players on the treatment of Paul Riley, Christy Holly and Rory Dames.
Sexual Abuse and News
Riley, 59, a former coach of Portland Thorns, among others, was described as “manipulative, abusive and sexist,” according to testimony collected in the report by former U.S. Department of Justice number two Sally Yates. He reportedly texted Meleana Shim, one of his players, saying he was “excited,” that she was “sexy” and “hot,” and that he wanted to “fuck” her. He appeared at the door of his room in his underwear. He changed her roommate (Sinead Farrelly) and asked her to kiss in front of him. Rory Dames, 59, a former Chicago Red Stars coach, has been described as “patronizing, manipulative, aggressive, abusive and intimidating”. According to the report, the psychologist who sent out the questionnaires found that “70% of the players surveyed (including most starters) reported emotionally abusive behavior and many did not recognize certain behaviors as abusive because they were so pervasive in women’s football that they have been normalized.
He drove a player home from practice and told her he wouldn’t let her down until he had answered all her sex-related questions. Christy Holly, 37, a Racing Louisville coach, also sexually assaulted a player, Erin Simon. According to the report, “He sent her sexually explicit photos and messages, urging her to do the same. He asked her to come over to his house to watch a game and instead showed her porn while he masturbated in front of her.” According to the report, it was clear to everyone that it was all an “open secret”. But nobody did anything.
“I don’t know, I don’t know why everyone was silent. You would have to ask them. It’s incredibly disappointing, frustrating and awful. I know the players weren’t silent and sometimes it was difficult because we asked ourselves: should we have said more, done more, boycotted any tournament? Yes, there was talk, the people who had the power and the responsibility to look after the footballers were briefed to hear their grievances and grievances. We filled out surveys, we told the federation, we told everyone…” Why were they silent? “Perhaps to protect his own position. They knew exactly what was going on and what the situation was like. It was explicitly stated year after year, year after year…” he laments.
It’s the same thing that happened to the gymnastics association and victim complaints of Larry Nassar. What’s wrong with the system? And Rapinoe replies, “Ugh, how much time do we have to talk? And he adds: “First of all, there is a serious lack of money and resources in protection policy and human resources. I also think that without a truly professional environment, there is room for abuse of power. And there is already a power dynamic between coaches and athletes, especially if your club’s coach is also a manager or sporting director. You have all the power and you make the decisions whether you play or not. And they can always say it’s a football decision, even if it’s not. When left unchecked, this power dynamic can often lead to abuse. Sexism, racism, homophobia and misogyny that exist in society are not alien to sport. If you don’t monitor him, you will have the same problems as in society.”
Megan Rapinoe, at a training moment in Tajonar, Navarr this Monday.PABLO_LASAOSA
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