Hope Solo laughs about 'old news,' teammate Carli Lloyd says
WINNIPEG – Hope Solo "laughs" about the ongoing furor surrounding the domestic violence saga threatening to overshadow the United States' Women's World Cup campaign, according to her captain and roommate Carli Lloyd.
Lloyd said that despite Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D – Conn.) saying Solo should be dropped from the squad and U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati hinting disciplinary action against her was possible, Solo was unbothered by the whole situation.
The U.S. drew 0-0 with Sweden on Friday to remain at the top of Group D, with one match remaining before the knockout round.
"Hope Solo news, that's so old news," Lloyd said, when asked if the timing of Gulati's response to Sen. Blumenthal on Friday was odd, given that if conflicted with a critical match. "I'm worrying about the World Cup, that's all I care about. Hope is my roommate and we don't even talk about it. It's all old news, we just laugh about it."
However, Gulati's letter to Blumenthal ensured that Solo would once again be thrust into the spotlight, despite a relatively uneventful game in which she was rarely called into action.
The 33-year-old goalkeeper was involved in an alleged domestic violence incident with her half-sister and nephew in June 2014, with an ESPN Outside The Lines report last week claiming she had been belligerent and aggressive towards police following her arrest.
Although the case was initially dropped on procedural grounds, prosecutors have filed an appeal to reopen the matter.
"Because we understand the prosecutor is appealing the dismissal, the federation believes it remains appropriate to await the final outcome of those proceedings," Gulati wrote in a letter to Blumenthal.
"Under the applicable statutes, bylaws, regulations and agreements, the federation could not then and cannot now simply prevent an otherwise qualified athlete from participating in an international competition like the Women's World Cup," Gulati added, defending his organization's handling of the matter.
Gulati also wrote to Blumenthal that US Soccer had not been aware of Solo's alleged conduct towards the police when it consulted with her soon after the incident. He admitted the federation was open to considering its approach "for addressing incidents of this type."
Solo refused requests from reporters to comment after the match, passing through the media interview zone at Winnipeg Stadium without stopping.
VIDEO: Hope Solo timeline
