Hope Solo suspended from soccer for 6 months following ‘cowards’ comment

In the middle of the Olympics and just before Ryan Lochte’s shenanigans sucked all of the air out of the room, American soccer player Hope Solo stepped in international dog s—t. Team USA was going for the gold in women’s soccer/football, and considering the American ladies won the World Cup last year, many thought the women would at least be a medal contender. Not so much, as it turned out. Team Sweden beat Team USA and the loss was crushing for the Americans. So crushing that Hope Solo said many stupid words after the game. Instead of just saying, “This loss hurts like hell, but well played, Sweden,” Solo decided to say that Sweden played like “cowards” because… they had a better strategy than Team USA.

While there was an immediate backlash to Solo’s comments online and across the board, many didn’t believe that Solo would face any kind of formal punishment. They were wrong!

Hope Solo has been suspended for six months for what U.S. Soccer termed conduct “counter to the organization’s principles.” The Associated Press reports that the U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper’s suspension is effective immediately.

U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said the comments Solo made after Sweden beat the U.S. at the Rio Olympics were “unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we require from our National Team players.”

Solo made the comment when speaking to Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl saying: “I thought that we played a courageous game,” adding: “But I also think we played a bunch of cowards. The best team did not win today.”

Solo was previously suspended for 30 days early in 2015 for her conduct and will not be eligible for selection to the national team until February.

[From People]

I didn’t realize it before now, but Solo is 35 years old. While she’s still a young woman in the grand scheme of things, she’s nearing retirement age for professional soccer players. Team USA has several 30-something players, so I don’t think retirement (forced or otherwise) would even be on the table if Solo had been gracious in defeat. But with this suspension… yeah, it sounds like US Soccer is trying to tell Solo that she might just want to call it a day. Still, the U.S. women’s national team’s players’ association lawyer is already telling media outlets that there are plans to file a grievance based on Solo’s First Amendment right to show unsportsmanlike behavior. Sure.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Solo’s social media.