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The Houston Dash suspended head mentor and standard supervisor James Clarkson on Tuesday due to an ongoing investigation to “overview present-day and historic grievances of discrimination, harassment and abuse.”
The Dash claimed an interim coach would be named in the coming days. Houston opens its Nationwide Women’s Soccer League frequent time Sunday in opposition to the growth San Diego Wave.
Per a news launch, the club received preliminary findings from a joint investigation by the NWSL and NWSL Gamers Affiliation that started past year. The Sprint will await the ultimate report ahead of deciding Clarkson’s foreseeable future.
“As an group, our maximum precedence is generating and sustaining a secure and respectful perform setting for our players and employees, which we believe that is vital to our good results on the pitch,” the Sprint reported in a assertion. “The Club has manufactured counseling expert services out there to all customers of the organization fascinated.”
In a joint launch, the NWSL and NWSLPA encouraged that Clarkson be “suspended straight away pending the summary” of the investigation.
“Gamers manufactured a guarantee to ourselves and long term generations to remodel our League — not by terms, but with our actions,” NWSLPA Government Director Meghann Burke said in a assertion. “This shows that our joint investigation is executing the do the job of systemic transformation. The do the job proceeds, and we commend Gamers for speaking up and talking out.”
In a statement Wednesday, Clarkson denied the allegations.
“I am stunned. Completely stunned,” he stated. “As a mentor I love the group and have normally revered my gamers and staff. Any these kinds of allegations are completely not correct.”
Clarkson, 50, was named mentor of the Dash ahead of the 2019 period. Before that, he served as the academy director for Houston’s MLS counterpart, the Dynamo, and coached the club’s Leading Development League affiliate.
Similar challenges beset the league in 2021 when the North Carolina Braveness fired coach Paul Riley about mounting accusations of sexual misconduct toward his gamers when he beforehand coached the Portland Thorns. The fallout incorporated the resignation of then-NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird.
The Washington Spirit fired mentor Richie Burke that same month adhering to a Washington Article story that featured allegations he created an abusive perform atmosphere for his players. And Chicago Purple Stars coach Rory Dames resigned in November amid allegations that ranged from verbal abuse to jokes about players’ ethnicity and faith and incorrect expectations that players invest time with him past apply.
In addition to the joint NWSL and NWSLPA investigation, the U.S. Soccer Federation has retained previous performing attorney common Sally Yates to conduct an unbiased investigation, which remains ongoing.
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