Report: Hope Solo, U.S. Soccer Federation reach settlement
Former Team USA goalkeeper Hope Solo and the U.S. Soccer Federation have reached a settlement, according to a published report.
Solo was suspended for six months by U.S. Soccer and had her contract terminated after the the fiery goalie called Sweden “a bunch of cowards” moments after USA’s loss to the Swedes in the quarterfinals of the Rio Olympics in August 2016. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Thursday that the U.S. Women’s National Team Players’ Association, who filed the grievance on behalf of Solo, and U.S. Soccer reached a settlement before arbitration was set to begin last month.
Messages left with the U.S. Soccer Federation and Rich Nichols, counsel for the players’ association, were not immediately returned on Friday.
"She got fired," Nichols told Paste BN Sports after U.S. Soccer announced its punishment of Solo. "She was fired for making comments that no man would have been fired for making. It's a draconian penalty."
In a statement to The San Francisco Chronicle, Solo said the grievance had been “amicably resolved the matter and are moving forward in a positive way.”
“I want to reiterate my regret for the comments I made after our loss to Sweden at the Rio Games,” Solo said. "As I expressed in my apology to the Swedish captain immediately following the match, I have tremendous respect for the Swedish team, and in describing the style of play, I used a choice of words that was both offensive and not at all what I had intended to convey.”