October 11 – Former USMNT, Bundesliga, and MLS star, Jermaine Jones has been suspended from his position as head coach of the Central Valley Fuego FC.
The suspension from the third tier USL League One club is through 2024 and probation for the 2025 season, but mystery surrounds the circumstances that led to this incident for both Jones and the club.
Jones has not appeared on the sidelines since August 30, however, neither the club or the league have announced his suspension publicly. The league has been investigating the conduct of Jones over the course of a few months and officially suspended him on September 27.
Earlier this week though Soroosh Abdi, Jones’ lawyer and agent, said an audit surrounding allegations of inappropriate behaviour found “both substantial and procedural shortcomings” that negated the investigation’s findings. “Jermaine Jones was subject to bias and unfair treatment by the USLPA.” The club were also seeking to have their coach be reinstated.
The league investigation was carried out by an outside law firm, Foley & Lardner, LLP. It determined that Jones had broken the league’s policies to safeguard players in six different ways.
As a player himself, Jones was uncompromising, fiercely competitive, and would stop at nothing to win football matches. While this mentality was the key to his success in the Bundesliga, MLS, and on the international stage, it doesn’t necessarily translate to the lower league of American soccer.
The Central Valley Fuego FC has struggled as a franchise since their inception in 2020. Attendances have been some of the lowest in the league, admittedly limited by the 1,000 capacity, Fresno State Soccer Stadium, however, performances have matched attendances with the team bottom of the league one standings.
Jones’s desire for his playing staff to match his own stellar career have not been realised and his methods of motivation have been questioned. In a February episode of the highly popular podcast ‘Kick It’ hosted by Kate Scott, Jones was asked about building meaningful relationships with players to which he replied “let’s make a plan. Get rid of all the guys, we don’t need them.”
After serving his suspension, Jones will be able to continue as the team’s coach for the 2025 season, pending a conversation with the league’s director of player welfare and safeguarding.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1732660368labto1732660368ofdlr1732660368owedi1732660368sni@o1732660368fni1732660368