U.S. Soccer has announced that Hope Solo has been suspended from the USWNT for six months following the comments she made about Sweden’s performance in the quarterfinal match that saw the U.S. eliminated from the 2016 Olympics in the quarterfinals.
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Goalkeeper Hope Solo will not play for the United States for six months after being banned for calling Olympic rivals Sweden “a bunch of cowards“.
Solo was speaking after her country was on the receiving end of a stunning upset in the quarter-finals in Brazil losing 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw that sent the Americans home without a medal for the first time ever US Soccer president Sunil Gulati said her comments, made in the heat of the moment in frustration at the Swedes’ perceived negative tactics, were “unacceptable”.
Solo had previously been suspended for 30 days in 2015.
Solo will not be eligible to be selected by the National Team until February 2017.
Solo’s suspension is effective immediately.
“I did the job of a pro athlete the only way I knew how – with passion, tenacity, an unrelenting commitment to be the best goaltender in the world.to elevate the sport for the next generation of female athletes”, Sports Illustrated quoted her as saying. Solo told reporters following the match that “I think we played a bunch of cowards” and “the best team did not win”. He added, “We expect all of our representatives to honor those principles, with no exceptions”.
Solo was called back into the national team in time for the 2015 Women’s World Cup, which the US won in Canada. “We feel at this time it is best for her to step away from the team”.
It’s not the first time Solo, who has made more than 200 appearances for her nation, has been suspended from global duty.
Importantly she at least acknowledged that she hasn’t always “said the right things”, but using her passion for the game as an excuse for demeaning other athletes seems like very weak play.
Solo called the Swedes “a bunch of cowards” for focusing on defense rather than attacking the three-time defending champion USA team.
Last month, she became the first goalkeeper with 100 global shutouts when the United States defeated South Africa 1-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago. “Solo’s First Amendment rights”. “I strongly, firmly believe that”.
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Her accusation came after the US lost 5-4 on penalties to the Swedes in the Olympic quarter final, leading critics to in turn accuse Solo of being a awful loser.
