A settlement creates a US fund of $ 5 million for NWSL players who have abused coaches and officials

The United States National Football Association in the United States will establish a $ 5 million US fund for players as part of a settlement that arose from allegations of emotional and sexual misconduct that shook the league in 2021.

Prosecutor from Washington, DC, Illinois and New York, announced a settlement with the league on Wednesday.

The money will go to the players who have suffered from ill -treatment. The settlement also requires the league to maintain guarantees placed in its place after a pair of investigations issued in late 2022, which found widespread miscalculations that affected multiple teams, coaches and players.

It also gives the public lawyer, Brian L. Shawwalb from Washington, DC, Letitia James from New York and Kwami Raul from Illinois, the ability to oversee the changes made by NWSL after the outbreak of the scandal, and the ability to a fine of the league if that if that failed to support these changes.

“Two of the separate investigations confirmed what the players were suffering for for years, and Shawwal said at a phone conference with correspondents:” The safety of the player. “

“After the 2022 report, the league made cash improvements, due to the fierce invitation to the players. But it is important that the victims have not been compensated for the abuse they were exposed to the league hour until today.”

A couple of former players, Seyd Farli and Mana Shim, advanced in 2021 and accused Paul Riley, the coach of the NWSL team for a long time of sexual harassment and coercion dating back to a decade.

Riley, who denied these allegations It was launched by the courage of North Carolina in the wake of. He was among the five main coaches in the league who were expelled or resigned in 2021 amid calls for misconduct. The NWSL Commissioner resigned at that time.

The NWSL Association and the Association of Players, as well as American football, launched investigations into these allegations. The American Football Report was led by former US public prosecutor Sally Sally Yits, who found emotional abuse and sexual misconduct “regular” in this sport.

“A continuous battle we cannot abandon.”

After the investigation, NWSL made changes to protect the players. The NWSL players also negotiated guarantees in the collective negotiation agreement.

“This agreement is a great achievement, and I am especially grateful because it includes increasing the mental health support for players,” the Yates report. “Although it does not change what happened or the pain caused by all the women named, his name has not been revealed and still suffers from what happened to them, it is an enormous step. This is a continuous battle that we cannot abandon, because of the vigilance of protection, the players should never stop “.

Tori Husster, President of NWLPA and a former player of Washington, attributed to the players who risked their professions to make a change.

“The recovery box, which costs $ 5 million, is not a gift. Nor is justice. This box exists because the players refuse to be silent. We found the courage to stand together as a group.” “This fund is a recognition of the unique failure and the harm that the players offer. It is a testimony of the courage of the players and a necessary step towards accountability. If NWSL is more safe today, it is because the players fought to reach this way.”

Among the guarantees that are assigned to continue the comprehensive audit of some team members, and mechanisms for players to report use, the player’s access to free and unlimited advice, access to the safety employee in the league and the policies that prevent the teams from investigating themselves.

“We have worked cooperatively with NWLPA and general lawyers to add greater strength to the software changes that we adopted in 2023 in light of the joint investigation reports, and we look forward to supporting the official in the distribution of the players’ restoration fund,” current, “the current” Jessica Berman, the NWSL, said in a statement. ” We will continue to do the work necessary to maintain the confidence of our players and build an environmental system as the best in the world wants to come. “

Al -Douri said that the recovery fund will manage retired judge Barbara S. Jones, who was an independent member of the committee, supervises the NWSL investigation of 2022 with the Federation of Players.

Jones has 45 days to develop a money distribution plan, which will be presented to the three lawyers for approval. Upon approval, the players will be notified, in the past and the present, and they will have six months to advance.

NWSL played its opening season in 2013. The Professional Women’s League now has 14 teams, with two others in 2026.

“Today is a new chapter for women’s football, and my role, where athletes can drive without fear of abuse or revenge. On the love of the game, James said. “None of this was possible if it was not the exceptional courage of players who advanced to exchange their experiences.”