NEW YORK (AP) — The United States Soccer Federation revealed Tuesday that it is investigating men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter for a 1991 confrontation in which he kicked the woman who later became his wife.
The federation said it learned of the allegation on December 11 and hired the Alston & Bird law firm to investigate. The USSF said Berhalter and his wife Rosalind had “spoke openly” about the matter, and Berhalter admitted to the kicking in a statement Tuesday.
“Through this process, US Soccer learned of possible inappropriate behavior toward various members of our staff by individuals outside of our organization,” the USSF said, adding that the investigation also includes those allegations.
The USSF said it will announce “in the next few days” who will coach the team for the exhibitions against Serbia on January 25 and Colombia three days later. These are the first games for the Americans since they were eliminated by the Netherlands last month in the round of 16 of the World Cup.
Berhalter’s statement read: “During the World Cup, a person contacted US Soccer and said they had information about me that would ‘take me down,’ an apparent effort to leverage something very personal from long ago to achieve the End of my relationship with American football.
“In the fall of 1991, I met my soul mate,” Berhalter continued. “We had been dating for four months when an incident occurred between us that would shape the future of our relationship. One night, while drinking at a local bar, Rosalind and I got into a heated argument that continued outside. He got physical and I kicked him in the legs.
“There are no excuses for my actions that night; It was an embarrassing moment and one I regret to this day. At that point, I immediately apologized to Rosalind, but understandably she wanted nothing to do with me. I told my parents, family, and friends what had happened because I wanted to take full responsibility for my behavior. Rosalind also informed her parents, relatives and friends of hers.
“While the authorities were never involved in this matter, I voluntarily sought advice to help me learn, grow and improve, one of the most valuable decisions I have ever made. To this day, that type of behavior has never been repeated,” she said.
Berhalter, 51, was hired in December 2018 after the US failed to qualify for that year’s World Cup. He has led the team to 37 wins, 11 losses and 12 draws, as the Americans earned the third and final automatic World Cup berth in the North, Central America and Caribbean region.
Berhalter is the first American to play for and coach the US in a World Cup. His contract was extended until December.
“I look forward to continuing my discussions with US Soccer about the future,” he said.
USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone and Sports Director Earnie Stewart have not discussed the coaching situation with the media since the World Cup. The USSF said its “full technical review” of the program and investigation was ongoing and the results of the investigation would be made public.
Berhalter was a defender from 1994 to 2011 for Zwolle, Sparta Rotterdam and Cambuur Leeuwarden in the Netherlands, Crystal Palace in England, Energie Cottbus and 1860 Munich in Germany and Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy. He coached Hammarby in Sweden and MLS Columbus Crew before taking over in the United States.
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