Lucy Bronze has praised the bravery of players for speaking out after an investigation released this week found abuse and misconduct within women’s professional soccer in the United States had become “systemic”.
The England star wants the revelations of the year-long investigation to be a turning point for how female athletes are treated in all sports.
The investigation was launched by governing body US Soccer last year, following complaints against North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley.
Englishman Riley, who denies the accusations, was sacked by Courage last September, while the National Women’s Soccer League, US Soccer and FIFA launched investigations.
US Soccer appointed former Attorney General Sally Yates and law firm King & Spalding LLP to investigate the claims and they spoke to more than 200 NWSL players, eventually publishing a 172-page independent report this week.
“Our investigation has revealed a league in which abuse and misconduct — verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct — had become systemic,” the Yates report said.
US Soccer said they would move immediately to implement reforms, and their president Cindy Parlow Cone called the investigation’s findings “heartbreaking and deeply troubling”.
“The abuse described is inexcusable,” said Parlow Cone. “US Soccer is fully committed to doing everything in its power to ensure that all players — at all levels — have a safe and respectful place to learn, grow and compete.”
Bronze has said the England squad stand in “solidarity” with all NWSL players in the wake of the investigation. She wants the shocking revelations to be a moment for change.
“The bigger picture is that them speaking out is hopefully going to make sure these type of things don’t happen again, that they can make solutions, people can be held accountable,” said Bronze, who is set to face the USA at Wembley on Friday. “It’s sad, but women’s sport in general tends to have these issues. They have probably been going on for a long time, but people have never been brave enough to speak out.
“I was part of a campaign in the summer against sexist hate because everyone now realises these things happen and we need to make a change, we need to be brave enough to speak about the things that happen to us, whether it’s mentally or physically, and just hope the right people are listening to put into affect the changes that need to happen.”
