I SUSPECT we have not heard the last of the Hope Solo affair. The United States goalkeeper, a Seattle Reign team-mate of Scotland’s Kim Little and Rachel Corsie, effectively had her international career terminated last week.
Although the 35-year-old has been dogged by controversies, on and off the park, did the punishment really fit the crime when she was suspended for six months by US Soccer for making “highly inappropriate” comments?
Her remarks – she called the Swedes “a bunch of cowards” in the wake of her side’s defeat at the Olympics – required a sanction, but a six-week ban would have been excessive, never mind the six months which was accompanied by the even more draconian termination of her international contract.
The statement by US Soccer made pointed reference to a previous suspension, for 30 days, last year. That related to a well-documented incident which occurred when Solo was at a national team training camp in California. On that occasion she accepted the rap.
This time it is different. Solo, pictured below, is a massive figure in US sport, with more than one million Twitter followers, and when she responded to the latest ban it was in a statement issued by her publicist. You know, the way Scottish women footballers have publicists.
Solo, who had 102 shut-outs in what now appears to be her final total of 202 international games, says she was “saddened” by the decision which, to give US Soccer their due, was imparted to her in person by chief executive Dan Flynn and coach Jill Ellis.
More significantly, a grievance procedure has been initiated. Lawyer Rich Nichols described the suspension as “excessive, unprecedented, disproportionate and a violation of Ms Solo’s First Amendment rights”. He further claimed, with considerable justification, that a male player would never have received this level of punishment. Nothing in Hope Solo’s past record suggests she will let this drop easily – and nor should she.
HOW ironic that the Scottish FA should be advertising for a head of girls’ and women’s football at the same time as a performance director.
The previous incumbents were Anne McConaghy and Brian McClair. Just about the only lasting impression made by the latter in his undistinguished short tenure was to let the former go for reasons which were never fully explained.
Whoever gets the job – applications close on Wednesday – will be expected to ensure that the target of 20,000 women and girls playing football in Scotland by 2020 is achieved.
FINALLY, a big day for Glasgow City and Hibernian on Thursday when the Uefa Women’s Champions League draw is held. To have two teams in the last 32 is a real step forward.
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