Paul Riley: FIFA investigates allegations of sexual misconduct against English-born NWSL coach
North Carolina Courage sacked English-born coach Paul Riley on Thursday after allegations of sexual misconduct towards female players were made public; NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird says she took “full responsibility for the role I have played”
FIFA’s judicial bodies have opened an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against coach Paul Riley as this weekend’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) games were postponed.
North Carolina Courage, who play in the United States’ top women’s league, sacked English-born coach Riley on Thursday after allegations of sexual misconduct towards female players were made public.
The claims were made following an investigation by The Athletic, who spoke to more than a dozen players Riley had coached since 2010, including two – Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim – who went on the record to detail Riley’s pattern of behaviour.
Riley, 58, who has coached women’s teams since 2006, has denied the accusations.
“Due to the severity and seriousness of the allegations being made by players, we can confirm that FIFA’s judicial bodies are actively looking into the matter and have opened a preliminary investigation,” FIFA said in a statement to the Associated Press.
