By Mark Baber
September 24 – U.S. Soccer is standing by its decision to allow women’s national team goalkeeper Hope Solo to continue to play in the period up to her November 4 trial on domestic violence charges. Nike have also said they will stick by the player.
Solo is charged with two misdemeanour counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault following an altercation with her 17-year-old nephew and sister-in-law at a family gathering on June 21 and faces a maximum six months in jail if found guilty.
Solo has pleaded not guilty – claiming that she was herself assaulted.
During the period since being charged Solo has broken the US women’s record for clean sheets.
The issue has taken on a new dimension due to the current domestic violence scandals in the NFL, with concerns expressed that Solo may be getting an easy ride because she is a woman, and a way should have been found for her to concentrate on her trial, rather than continuing to play.
U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Scott Blackmun said: “”Abuse in all forms is unacceptable. The allegations involving Ms. Solo are disturbing and are inconsistent with our expectations of Olympians.”
However, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati has stuck to his guns saying, “U.S. Soccer takes the issue of domestic violence very seriously. From the beginning, we considered the information available and have taken a deliberate and thoughtful approach regarding Hope Solo’s status with the national team. Based on that information, U.S. Soccer stands by our decision to allow her to participate with the team as the legal process unfolds. If new information becomes available we will carefully consider it.”
Nike have also stood by Solo, with spokesman Greg Rossiter saying, “We are aware of the allegations and that Hope Solo has pled not guilty to the charges. Hope remains a Nike athlete and we will continue to monitor the situation.”
The US media have quoted alleged court documents in which Solo’s nephew says she turned up drunk at the family event, that an argument and fistfight ensued and his mother was hit in the face when she tried to intervene.
The nephew allegedly had to break a broom over Solo’s head and threaten her with an unloaded BB gun before she would leave.
Whilst Solo maintains her innocence she has acknowledged the incident has been a “challenge” for her family, saying “I love my family dearly. We, like all families, have our challenges but my sincere hope is that we are able to resolve this situation as a family.”