Orlando Pride has terminated the contracts of head coach Amanda Cromwell and her assistant Sam Greene by the NWSL. Following a joint NWSL/NWSL Players’ Association investigation in March, Cromwell and Greene were issued written warnings after several allegations of verbal abuse and undue favoritism against them were found to be true. After that, it was discovered that the coaches had engaged in retaliatory actions towards players who they believed had either filed complaints against them or supported the probe. Additionally, they retaliated against some players by attempting to move them or have their contracts waived.
Aline Reis, the goalkeeper coach of Orlando Pride, has been placed on administrative leave after it was discovered that she had coerced players into providing investigators with favorable information. All three coaches—Cromwell, Greene, and Reis—claimed they had experienced various forms of misbehavior during the joint NWSL/NWSLPA investigation, but an outside investigator ruled that their claims lacked merit. According to a league statement, Cromwell and Greene “are ineligible to work in the NWSL in any capacity unless or until cleared by the commissioner.” The trio must complete required training on retaliation, discrimination, harassment, and bullying as well as executive coaching, as approved by the commissioner, to recover their eligibility to coach in the NWSL.
Cromwell, Greene, and Reis must also admit fault and show a genuine desire to change their conduct. While participating in the executive coaching requirement, Reis can resume her job. To “ensure everyone is on notice of the league’s expectations for appropriate conduct and behavior inside the NWSL,” the whole Orlando Pride organization must also complete training on retaliation, discrimination, harassment, and bullying. The joint investigation between the NWSL and the NWSLPA into claims of abuse of power against players is currently continuing, and the league welcomes participation from all stakeholders.
For more football news, click here
