US Soccer says it stands by decision to let Hope Solo play

While the National Football League is widely regarded as the most popular sports league in North America, there is a sport that is much more popular on a worldly scale, soccer. Despite women’s soccer not being included in FIFA 15, the sport is widely followed on a national level, and no one is more popular than Hope Solo.

More from Soccer

In June, Solo had an altercation with her 17-year-old nephew and sister at a family gathering. That altercation has led to two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault. At this point, Solo is awaiting a November 4 trial date after pleading not guilty. If found otherwise, she could face up to six month in jail.

Now, back to the National Football League, Ray Rice recently went through a domestic assault situation and was indefinitely suspended after he was cut by the Baltimore Ravens. Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list following child abuse allegations as well.

Monday, US Soccer defended its position to allow Solo to continue to play until the legal matter plays out. President Sunil Gulati said, “U.S. Soccer takes the issue of domestic violence very seriously. From the beginning, we considered the information available and have taken a deliberate and thoughtful approach regarding Hope Solo’s status with the national team. Based on that information, U.S. Soccer stands by our decision to allow her to participate with the team as the legal process unfolds. If new information becomes available we will carefully consider it.”

With the stance to continue to support its star player on the US Women’s Soccer National Team, the organization brings up a very strong point that seems to have been somewhat forgotten in both the Rice and Peterson situation, no professional sports league is a judicial institution.

Following the NFL reaching out to the district attorney, the league was turned away. Although domestic violence is a very serious matter, and the allegations in all three situations are alarming, a sporting league may be overstepping its bounds playing police in the matter.

Despite the negative publicity a matter of the like could bring, both the NFL and US Soccer, have currently or in the past, employed convicted criminals. At this point, none of the three cases feature someone in that situation. US Soccer may have actually taken the better stance on this one.

More from FanSided

FIFA 15 Review: A blast straight to the back of the net
Red Bulls moving back up MLS power rankings

Home/Soccer