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CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. women's goalkeeper Hope Solo was suspended
Wednesday for six months by U.S. Soccer for disparaging comments
about Sweden following the Americans' early departure from the
Rio Olympics.
Solo called the Swedes "a bunch of cowards" for focusing on
defense rather than attacking the three-time defending champion
U.S. team. Sweden ousted the U.S. 4-3 on penalty kicks following
a 1-1 draw in a quarterfinal match.
U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said Solo's comments were
"unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we require
from our National Team players."
"Beyond the athletic arena, and beyond the results, the Olympics
celebrate and represent the ideals of fair play and respect,"
Gulati said. "We expect all of our representatives to honor
those principles, with no exceptions."
The 35-year-old Solo, who was previously suspended for 30 days
early in 2015 for her conduct, will not be eligible for
selection to the national team until February.
Solo said she was "saddened" by the decision in a statement on
her Facebook page .
"I could not be the player I am without being the person I am,
even when I haven't made the best choices or said the right
things," she said. "My entire career, I have only wanted the
best for this team, for the players and the women's game and I
will continue to pursue these causes with the same unrelenting
passion with which I play the game."
Solo was a lightning rod during the Olympic tournament, irking
fans in Brazil when she posted a photo on social media of
herself covered with mosquito netting and armed with insect
repellant. Fans booed her mercilessly and hollered "Zika!" each
time she kicked downfield.
Then she caused a stir with her "cowards" comment.
Sweden's coach, Pia Sundhage, who led the U.S. team to gold
medals in Beijing and London, replied by stating: "It's OK to be
a coward if you win."
Solo has been making headlines throughout her stellar career.
Last month, she became the first goalkeeper with 100
international shutouts when the United States defeated South
Africa 1-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago. It also was her 150th
career win.
Solo won her second straight Golden Glove Award for the best
goalkeeper at the Women's World Cup a year ago. Over the course
of the tournament in Canada, she had five shutouts and allowed
only three goals in seven games.
She has vocally advocated for women's rights. Solo was among the
U.S. players who filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission for wage discrimination,
saying the men's national team players have been paid much more
than many on the women's team.
More recently, she has called for better conditions for players
in the National Women's Soccer League.
She has also been trying to avoid trial on misdemeanor domestic
violence charges after a 2014 incident at her sister's home,
when the goalkeeper was accused of being intoxicated and
assaulting her sister and 17-year-old nephew. Solo said she was
a victim in the altercation. Earlier this year, an appeals court
in Washington state rejected Solo's request to avoid trial.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Hope-Solo-suspended-from- national-team-for-6-9182982.php
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