Former U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Hope Solo has filed a complaint against the U.S. Soccer Federation with the U.S. Olympic Committee, accusing it of illegally favoring Major League Soccer.
Solo, among eight candidates running in the Feb. 10 election to succeed Sunil Gulati as USSF president, said in a 38-page complaint announced Tuesday that “the USSF’s paramount concern has become protecting and nurturing the MLS, even if at the expense of other stakeholders, including those involved in professional women’s and amateur soccer.”
She filed the complaint under the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and asked that the USOC place the USSF on probation for up to 180 days and require soccer’s U.S. governing body to correct the conditions she alleges are improper.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber has endorsed Kathy Carter, on leave as president of Soccer United Marketing, to succeed Gulati. SUM was launched in 2002 and holds exclusive commercial rights to Major League Soccer and the USSF.
Solo accused the USSF of lacking financial transparency, responsibility to its members and independence and of failing to provide equal support for women and sufficient opportunities for athletes with ambulatory cerebral palsy, stroke or traumatic brain injury.
USSF spokesman Neil Buethe and USOC spokesman Mark Jones did not respond to emails seeking comment.
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