UPDATE (8:15 p.m. ET): Minutes after the world learned of Hope Solo’s six month suspension via U.S. Soccer for her controversial Olympic comments, the goalie told Sports Illustrated that her contract has been terminated.
ORIGINAL STORY: Before Ryan Lochte got himself into trouble at the Olympics, Hope Solo was at the center of her own self-inflicted controversy in Rio de Janeiro. And we’re not even talking about her Zika virus jokes.
Following the U.S. women’s soccer team’s stunning quarterfinal loss against Sweden at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Solo said USA “lost to a bunch of cowards,” among other things.
Well, actions have consequences, and Solo learned that the hard way Wednesday night when the USWNT announced it has suspended Solo for six months for “conduct that is counter to the organization’s principles.”
“The comments by Hope Solo after the match against Sweden during the 2016 Olympics were unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we require from our National Team players,” U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said in a press release. “Beyond the athletic arena, and beyond the results, the Olympics celebrate and represent the ideals of fair play and respect. We expect all of our representatives to honor those principles, with no exceptions.
“Taking into consideration the past incidents involving Hope, as well as the private conversations we’ve had requiring her to conduct herself in a manner befitting a U.S. National Team member, U.S. Soccer determined this is the appropriate disciplinary action.”
Poor sportsmanship isn’t just a bad look — it also can get you suspended.
Thumbnail photo via Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports Images