An independent investigation was opened to coaching staff at Bay FC following the publication of a report describing a “toxic” work environment at the club, National Women’s Soccer League Commissioner Jessica Berman said.
The San Francisco Chronicle published an investigation Friday that said at least two formal complaints were made about the team under Coach Albertin Montoya.
Two former players, not named in the Chronicle report, described the team’s environment as toxic, and two former Bay FC employees have agreed to assessment.
The team is investigating a complaint and no mistake is found, while the second status is unclear, according to the newspaper. Bay FC said on Friday in a statement that a third party was investigating the claim and no evidence of misconduct.
The league confirmed on Friday that it opened a formal analysis of a party outside.
In a conference call with journalists in advance of the Friday night’s challenge of the NWSL’s defensive champion Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit, Berman discussed the report.
“Our goal is to create a safe, healthy work environment for all and everything we do, both active and responsible, is in the service of that,” he said. “Based on the information we have noticed, a review is carried out by an independent third party and we are very confident that the system we have in place will ensure that we will deduct issues that need to be addressed, and we will continue to work with all our clubs, our technical staff and our players to ensure that we have achieved our goal of creating a safe, healthy working environment.”
No timeline is set for league review.
This is the second time this year that Bay FC is subject to investigation. The leader of domestic scouting club Graeme Abel, resigned in late February after just one week to work amid allegations of verbal abuse while he was coaching the University of Oregon.
The NWSL was stoned by a abuse and misconduct in 2021. Five coaches resigned or fired afterwards and prompted two investigations, one of us of soccer and another in the league and union of players.
In response, the NWSL has implemented changes to protect players, including enhanced club employees and an unidentified tip line for players. The NWSL Player Association also agreed with the careful bargaining agreements in the league.
The NWSL has established a $ 5M fund for players subject to abuse as part of a regulating announcement last month with general lawyers from Washington DC, Illinois and New York. The league also needs to keep the area in the area.
Four former employees and two former players told the chronicle that they chose to leave the San Jose -based team after the inaugural season last year due to Montoya. Two of the interviewees said the coach was “target and oppressive” players who asked the decisions.
The Chronicle spoke to more than a dozen dating and current players, team officials and league resources for its investigation.
Bay FC said in a statement that it worked to meet “communication challenges” that shone in a midseason player survey last year, and improvement could be seen in a survey end of the season. The club said it implemented new methods, including executive coaching and setting a clear framework for team values and culture.
“We recently learned feedback from the league about our end of the survey period that only relates to communication challenges. We seriously all comments and work closely to the league to review and take the appropriate steps needed based on the findings. We have been established as a club-centric club, and we will do what we need to make sure we have a support for our players,” said the team statement. “
