The impartial investigation into former U.S. males’s nationwide workforce coach Gregg Berhalter was launched Monday and confirmed particulars of an incident in 1992 wherein Berhalter pushed down and kicked his then-girlfriend, now-wife Rosalind Berhalter within the legs when the 2 had been freshmen on the University of North Carolina.
According to the investigation, the small print of the incident observe with what Gregg and Rosalind Berhalter stated each in a public assertion and in interviews with investigators, and had been confirmed by witnesses who had been knowledgeable in regards to the incident within the days after that combat occurred 31 years in the past.
The legislation agency that performed the investigation, Alston & Bird, concluded that its evaluation “leads us to conclude that the fact of the 1992 Incident does not prevent an employer from employing Mr. Berhalter.” According to the investigation, provided that it occurred 31 years in the past and no proof contradicting witness accounts or suggesting related conduct since, “there is no basis to conclude that employing Mr. Berhalter would create legal risks for an organization.”
The investigation, which could be learn in full right here, additionally confirmed that former U.S. World Cup captain Claudio Reyna had a “pattern of periodic outreach” to U.S. Soccer officers over a six-year interval from 2016 via the top of 2022 with reference to “U.S. Soccer’s treatment of his children, including primarily his son, USMNT player Gio Reyna.” That outreach included complaints about refereeing at youth membership stage within the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, journey lodging on the U-17 World Cup and Reyna’s position on the 2022 World Cup. The investigation additionally indicated that each Claudio and Danielle Reyna, Gio Reyna’s mom, made obscure strategies to U.S. Soccer workers on the 2022 World Cup, “suggesting they knew damaging information about Mr. Berhalter that U.S. Soccer officials did not know.”
The investigation additionally concluded that the communications between the Reynas and U.S. Soccer officers didn’t violate any legal guidelines or U.S. Soccer coverage, however didn’t decide whether or not it violated the FIFA Code of Ethics – a violation probably in play as a result of Reyna was an official with NYCFC and Austin FC on the time of the communications.
Notably, investigators wrote that they had been, “impressed with Mr. Berhalter’s candor and demeanor during the Investigation. He cooperated fully and extensively with the Investigation and our requests for interviews.” They additionally wrote that they had been, “less impressed with the Reynas’ cooperation during the Investigation. After several attempts to schedule an interview, we had two brief phone conversations with Mrs. Reyna on December 29th, and we did not succeed in having a follow-up conversation with her – or any conversation with Mr. Reyna – after that. Mrs. Reyna’s story evolved over the course of the Investigation.”
U.S. Soccer launched an announcement that reads partially: “Given the investigators’ conclusion that there is no legal impediment to employing him, Gregg Berhalter remains a candidate to serve as head coach of the men’s national team. The report also identifies a need to revisit U.S. Soccer’s policies concerning appropriate parental conduct and communications with staff at the national team level. We will be updating those policies as we continue to work to ensure safe environments for all participants in our game.”
The assertion signifies that U.S. Soccer has begun interviews with candidates for its vacant sporting director place and that the sporting director will “lead the process of determining who will serve as head coach” of the USMNT.
Why was an investigation opened? What was being investigated?
U.S. Soccer opened an investigation after it realized of an incident involving coach Gregg Berhalter and his now-wife, Rosalind Berhalter, when the 2 first began relationship on the University of North Carolina in 1992. According to an announcement issued collectively by the Berhalters, Gregg kicked Rosalind throughout an argument outdoors of a bar at UNC. During the course of that investigation, U.S. Soccer stated it expanded the investigation to incorporate “potential inappropriate behavior towards multiple members of our staff by individuals outside of our organization.”
What had been the outcomes of the investigation?
The investigation confirmed that, in response to interviews with each Gregg and Rosalind Berhalter, they received into an argument whereas they had been freshmen on the University of North Carolina at a bar known as Players.
The combat began as a result of Gregg Berhalter, then 18, was jealous that Rosalind was giving consideration to a different scholar athlete. The two had been intoxicated and ultimately went outdoors. Rosalind Berhalter struck Gregg within the face and Gregg Berhalter shoved her to the bottom and kicked her within the “upper leg” twice earlier than being tackled by a passer-by.
According to the investigation, each Gregg and Rosalind Berhalter self-reported the incident to their respective faculty coaches the subsequent day. Elmar Bolowich, the UNC males’s coach, confirmed these particulars. The UNC girls’s coach, Anson Dorrance, declined to be interviewed for the investigation and stated that it was a private problem “that should be resolved within the families” and that he “won’t contribute to something in the public eye.” Gregg Berhalter’s relations additionally confirmed that Gregg informed them in regards to the incident in 1992. Danielle Reyna, who was roommates with Rosalind Berhalter, stated she didn’t witness the incident.
No police report was filed nor any report with UNC and Rosalind Berhalter stated she didn’t search medical consideration as a result of “she was not injured.” Berhalter voluntarily sought assist after the incident, he stated in an announcement earlier this 12 months. He informed investigators he self-reported this incident to his tutorial counselor, sought counseling in regards to the incident, and, of his personal accord, determined to do group service at a girls’s teenage correctional facility in Durham. No one required him to pursue counseling or group service.”
The two stopped relationship till the next 12 months after they had been sophomores. The investigators discovered no proof that contradicts this recollection. They additionally discovered no proof of every other bodily abuse or incidents within the 31 years since.
What did the investigation present concerning the Reynas’ communications with U.S. Soccer?
The investigation concluded that there was a “pattern of outreach” together with whereas Gio Reyna performed youth membership soccer within the U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) for NYCFC whereas his father was sporting director of the MLS group.
A interview with an individual whose identify was redacted known as Claudio Reyna’s historic outreach as “bullying” and “mean-spirited” and stated that each time he obtained them he would ahead it to U.S. Soccer management.
In Feb. 2016, Claudio Reyna made complaints about his son and tried to overturn a crimson card that Gio Reyna received in a USSDA match. The official didn’t overturn the crimson card or permit Gio Reyna to play within the subsequent match. In 2018, Claudio Reyna despatched one other electronic mail complaining a couple of feminine referee in a match involving Gio Reyna. In the e-mail, in response to the investigation, “Mr. Reyna stated, ‘Field, referee everything!! So embarrassing all the way around.’ Mr. Reyna sent a follow-up email that stated: ‘And in all honest [sic] can we get real and have male refs for a game like this. Its embarrassing guys. What are we trying to prove? A game like this deserves bett[e]r attention.’”
That electronic mail was circulated internally at U.S. Soccer and led to this remark from a supply whose identify was redacted: “This is truly sad to see. I believe we should regroup internally . . . and decide the path we want to take. After this and his communication last week, this is not appropriate or acceptable.”
Earnie Stewart stated Claudio started making complaints to him as early as Nov. 2019 in the course of the FIFA U-17 World Cup about lack of enjoying time for Gio Reyna, insufficient journey preparations (not flying enterprise class) and different points. Stewart informed investigators he had not handled that kind of habits from every other mother and father in his 20 years within the enterprise.
Stewart shared one textual content obtained on Nov. 21 after Gio Reyna didn’t play within the Wales recreation wherein Claudio wrote, “What a complete and utter (f-ing) joke. Our family is disgusted in case you are wondering. Disgusted at how a coach is allowed to never be challenged and do whatever he wants.”
Another witness whose identify was redacted stated that the Reynas declined to get again on a bus within the household program on the 2022 World Cup after the Wales recreation as a result of the Berhalter household was additionally on the bus. That witness recalled a dialog with Danielle Reyna the subsequent day wherein she apologized for the emotion of the second but additionally stated, “You’re talking about 40 years of history between us, for something like this to happen.” The witness then stated Danielle, “said something along the lines of, ‘Once this tournament is over, I can make one phone call and give one interview, and his cool sneakers and bounce passes will be gone.’”
Then-U.S. Soccer common supervisor Brian McBride stated he began receiving texts from Claudio Reyna after being employed in January 2020. He additionally obtained a textual content from Claudio Reyna on Nov. 21 that learn: “Our entire family is disgusted, angry and done with you guys. Don’t expect nice comments from anyone in our family about US Soccer. I’m being transparent to you not like the political clown show of the federation.”
McBride met with the Reynas on Nov. 24, the day earlier than the England recreation, to elucidate the selections about Gio Reyna’s enjoying time. McBride informed investigators these varieties of conferences wouldn’t sometimes occur, however he did in order a courtesy to Claudio Reyna given their lengthy friendship and historical past as teammates. During that assembly, McBride stated Claudio informed him, “You guys don’t even know what we know about Gregg,” however didn’t present extra info.
That communication additionally included the Reynas reaching out to Stewart on Dec. 11 and disclosing the 31-year-old incident involving the Berhalters. The investigation concluded that, “the information was disclosed at a time when it would be expected to discourage or otherwise influence the organization from offering a contract extension to Mr. Berhalter.”
The investigation discovered, nonetheless, that the Reynas’ communications didn’t quantity to against the law and didn’t violate U.S. Soccer insurance policies or SafeSport guidelines.
How did U.S. Soccer study in regards to the Berhalter incident?
U.S. Soccer realized of the incident on Dec. 11 after Claudio “sent a series of text messages to then-U.S. Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart regarding Gio Reyna and the recent media coverage regarding Gregg Berhalter’s comments at the leadership conference.” Stewart stated he spoke with each mother and father by telephone and listened to their considerations. Near the top of the decision, in response to the investigation, Danielle alleged Gregg bodily assaulted Rosalind within the Nineteen Nineties. Investigators wrote that Stewart informed them, “Mrs. Reyna told him on Dec. 11, 2022 that Mr. Berhalter “beat the shit out of” Mrs. Berhalter throughout their freshman 12 months of faculty.”
Stewart instantly knowledgeable U.S. Soccer counsel in regards to the name.
Berhalter was interviewed for the investigation on Dec. 20 with out realizing what it was about and instantly admitted to the incident and mentioned particulars of it with investigators saying, “I still have to own this now.” Rosalind Berhalter was interviewed the subsequent day and gave the same recollection of the occasion.
When investigators initially reached out to Danielle Reyna to interview her for the investigation and requested if she had a telephone dialog with Stewart on Dec. 11, Danielle Reyna acknowledged, “I will not confirm anything.” She stated she wouldn’t become involved as a result of “I have cleaned my mind.”
Asked once more if she had that decision with Stewart: “I’m not saying I did that. I am not saying anything. I won’t confirm or deny that I made that allegation to Earnie.” Investigators then requested once more if she was on the telephone with Stewart in December and she or he stated, “I deny we were on a phone call.” When requested once more in regards to the name, Reyna stated, “Yes, I am denying this whole thing.” According to the investigators, Reyna stated she didn’t converse to Stewart about something and she or he didn’t keep in mind and that there’s nothing else she will share with us. Said she had nothing left to say and “if you want to close it, you can close it.”
Danielle Reyna then known as investigators again and stated, “I did say it” in reference to the Dec. 11 name with Stewart.
According to the investigation: “She explained that she had a phone conversation with Stewart and told him that ‘there was an incident our freshman year I had to deal with’ involving Mr. and Mrs. Berhalter. We asked for details about the incident. She said: ‘There was a physical fight. I wasn’t there. I didn’t observe the fight.’ She confirmed the fight was ‘between Gregg and his wife.’ When we asked what actually happened, she said, ‘I didn’t observe it.’ She explained that she had talked about it with Mrs. Berhalter when it happened, ‘but I don’t know who hit whom. I was told there was a fight – that was it.’”
Danielle Reyna later stated in an announcement that she informed Stewart in regards to the incident involving Gregg Berhalter throughout a telephone dialog after the World Cup. Danielle stated within the assertion she was upset that Berhalter had spoken about habits points concerning her son in the course of the World Cup whereas Berhalter was talking at a management convention within the days after the match. It needs to be famous that Berhalter’s feedback had been made at a convention beneath the Chatham House Rule that was supposed to stay off the report, and that in these feedback he didn’t identify any participant. A report by The Athletic revealed that the participant he was citing was Reyna.
What occurred with Gio Reyna on the World Cup?
According to a number of sources near the workforce, Reyna confirmed an alarming lack of effort in coaching forward of the U.S.’s opening match of the match towards Wales on Nov. 21, together with in a scrimmage towards Qatari membership Al Gharafa SC on Nov. 17. Reyna’s lack of depth within the scrimmage — sources described him strolling round all through his time on the sector throughout what was in any other case an intense session — induced vital frustration throughout the workforce. The lack of effort was so pronounced that it was unclear whether or not Reyna was defending towards an damage or simply annoyed that he was not set to be a starter towards Wales. The points continued into the Wales recreation when Reyna threw his shin guards after not being subbed in, after which right into a post-Wales coaching session wherein Reyna’s lack of effort continued once more. It prompted a number of veteran gamers to talk with Reyna. The sources stated that the state of affairs turned untenable and that it needed to be addressed a number of occasions, together with with the teaching employees, till, lastly, Reyna stood up earlier than a video session and apologized to his teammates for his preliminary lack of depth and stated he understood he was a part of a collective group.
Both Berhalter and Reyna confirmed these points. In his feedback on the management convention, Berhalter stated they had been able to ship a participant residence for “a player clearly not meeting expectations on and off the field” and confirmed that the participant ultimately apologized to the workforce. In an announcement he posted on Instagram, Gio Reyna confirmed some particulars as effectively, writing that after being informed he would have a “limited role,” he “let my emotions get the best of me and affect my training and behavior for a few days after learning about my limited role. I apologized to my teammates and coach for this, and I was told I was forgiven. Thereafter, I shook off my disappointment and gave everything I had on and off the field.”
In the investigation, Stewart additionally confirmed a few of the particulars, telling investigators that, “coaches had concerns about Gio Reyna’s level of fitness for the first game because he was recovering from an injury. In addition, Mr. Stewart told us that Gio Reyna’s performance was poor during a scrimmage game because he ‘walk[ed] around, and mope[d] around the whole time.’ Mr. Stewart said although it looked like he might still be injured, he mostly ‘seemed ticked off’ and ‘did not appear to be trying at all.’ Mr. Stewart told us that Mr. Berhalter talked to Gio Reyna after that scrimmage to inform him that his effort was not satisfactory, and he needed to ‘adjust his mentality.’ However, Mr. Stewart said that Gio Reyna’s behavior continued for a couple of days of training even after the scrimmage and discussion with Mr. Berhalter. For example, Mr. Stewart said players were required to do sprints on training days after a scrimmage and ‘other guys were busting their tails doing the sprints’ while ‘Gio didn’t do anything.’ Mr. Stewart said this behavior continued after U.S. played in their first game at the 2022 World Cup.”
What’s the connection between the Reynas, Berhalters and U.S. Soccer management? They all appear fairly shut.
They are. Further complicating the problems between the Reynas and the Berhalters is the historical past between the 2 households.
Gregg Berhalter and Gio’s father, Claudio Reyna, grew up collectively in New Jersey. They performed for a similar youth workforce, coached by Claudio’s father, in addition to for a similar highschool workforce. Claudio Reyna was the very best man at Berhalter’s wedding ceremony. Berhalter and Reyna had been teammates for the U.S. males’s nationwide workforce at two World Cups — in 2002 and 2006.
Danielle Reyna and Rosalind Berhalter had been teammates and roommates for the University of North Carolina’s girls’s soccer workforce. They remained shut associates after leaving faculty. Danielle Reyna was in Rosalind Berhalter’s wedding ceremony get together.
In addition, management of the U.S. males’s nationwide workforce was carefully linked with each households, as effectively. Then-sporting director Earnie Stewart performed on the U.S. workforce with each Berhalter and Reyna, as did then-general supervisor Brian McBride.
What comes subsequent for U.S. Soccer?
Plenty has unfolded off the sector for U.S. Soccer amidst this investigation.
Both Stewart and McBride introduced they’d not be returning of their respective roles. Stewart joined PSV in his native Holland. McBride is transferring on from U.S. Soccer.
U.S. Soccer subsequently introduced it might start a seek for Stewart’s alternative and had employed a consultancy agency, Sportsology, to assist lead that search. Among the candidates whose names have leaked in the course of the search are Sporting Kansas City’s Peter Vermes and Philadelphia Union’s Ernst Tanner, each of whom declined the curiosity, and former U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu.
U.S. Soccer introduced at the moment that interviews are being performed for the sporting director place and that the sporting director will lead the teaching search.
U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone stated she hoped to have a sporting director in place earlier than the beginning of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. U.S. Soccer management stated Gregg Berhalter stays a candidate to return as coach.
Anthony Hudson is presently in place because the interim supervisor and can information the workforce via upcoming CONCACAF Nations League video games towards Grenada and El Salvador in March. The hope, Parlow Cone stated, is to have a coach in place by the top of the summer time. If that timeline holds, Hudson would oversee the workforce via a possible Nations League semifinal and closing and the summer time’s Gold Cup match.
What is subsequent for Gregg Berhalter?
It’s not clear what Berhalter’s subsequent step will probably be.
As U.S. Soccer’s assertion indicated, he stays in competition for the U.S. job, and a few would argue that his outcomes on the sector with the U.S. warrant it. Berhalter gained the Nations League and Gold Cup trophies, certified for the World Cup with the youngest workforce on this planet after which received out of the group on the World Cup with sturdy, assured performances towards Wales and England. Their 5 factors was tied with the 2010 workforce for many in a gaggle stage by any USMNT at a World Cup. A 3-1 loss to the Netherlands within the knockout stage was disappointing, however not surprising. If his tenure is finished, he’ll stroll away with the best win proportion of any USMNT coach and a 37-11-12 report.
If Berhalter’s tenure is certainly achieved, the query is whether or not he’ll discover suitors in Europe or make a return to MLS. The former heart again spent 15 years of his 17-year enjoying profession in Europe, with stops in Holland, England and Germany. He additionally coached for 2 years in Sweden earlier than taking on the Columbus Crew in 2013.
Berhalter would doubtless be a fascinating candidate in MLS. In 5 seasons and 170 common season video games accountable for the Crew, thought of one of many lower-spending groups within the league throughout that point, he completed with a 67-58-45 report, averaging 1.45 factors per recreation, and led Columbus to an MLS Cup closing in 2015.
What’s subsequent for Gio Reyna?
Reyna met with Hudson, the interim supervisor, final month in Germany when Hudson took a visit to see gamers primarily based in Europe. Hudson stated the assembly was a “positive” one and famous that they believed the problems with Reyna had been resolved in the course of the World Cup camp. It is anticipated that Reyna will probably be known as up for the USMNT’s subsequent video games towards Grenada and El Salvador within the CONCACAF Nations League on the finish of this month.
Reyna stays an necessary a part of the pool and can undoubtedly play a task on this workforce going ahead.
Reyna scored three targets in his first three video games again for Dortmund, all off the bench, however has struggled for constant minutes since, although he simply performed 86 minutes in a 2-0 loss to Chelsea within the Champions League.
It also needs to be famous that Claudio Reyna resigned as sporting director of Austin FC, although he’s persevering with as a “technical advisor.”
(Top illustration: Eamonn Dalton; Photos: Joe Prior, Richard Sellers, Michael Stewart / Getty Images)
