The has opened an investigation into the teaching workers following complaints of a poisonous work surroundings, the league introduced Friday, one week earlier than the 2025 season kicks off.
“Based mostly on info shared with the league, we’re initiating a proper overview of the communications between technical workers and the gamers at Bay FC and can take the suitable steps crucial based mostly on the findings of that overview,” NWSL mentioned in a press release to USA TODAY Sports activities. “Guaranteeing a secure and supportive surroundings is a prime precedence, and we stay dedicated to upholding the very best requirements of professionalism and accountability throughout the league.”
The league’s investigation got here after printed a report, the place a minimum of 4 former gamers and staff described the tradition below first-year head coach Albertin Montoya as “poisonous.” In a press release to USA TODAY Sports activities on Friday, Bay FC mentioned it takes all complaints “very critically” and mentioned the soccer membership is “working carefully with the league to overview.”
Montoya faces allegations of ‘bullying,’ retaliation
Montoya was employed as the primary head coach of Bay FC, the NWSL’s 14th franchise, which kicked off its inaugural season in March 2024. The soccer membership, based mostly in San Jose, Calif., certified for the playoffs in its first season and was eradicated within the first spherical by the Washington Spirit.
Regardless of a profitable opening season on the sphere, there have been issues surrounding the Bay FC’s teaching workers after it was ranked thirteenth out of 14 groups in a mid-season survey. The Chronicle interviewed former gamers and staff throughout its investigation and located that Montoya fostered a “poisonous” surroundings. Two folks advised the outlet Montoya would publicly “goal and bully” gamers that questioned his choices. One other former participant advised the Chronicle that Montoya would “punish” individuals who spoke up about their psychological well being.
“Gamers would come out of the beginning lineup and (Montoya) refused to inform them why,” one former worker advised the outlet. “After all their psychological well being would spiral however he wouldn’t handle something and punished anybody who requested questions.”
Montoya’s alleged misconduct led to many departures. Regardless of Bay FC saying “roster turnover from 12 months one to 12 months two with NWSL growth sides is quite common,” 4 former staff and two former gamers advised the outlet they will not return to Bay FC due to Montoya particularly.
Bay FC says it takes allegations ‘very critically’
Two formal complaints the place filed in opposition to Montoya final season, based on the outlet. Within the first grievance, a participant alleged that Montoya “focused” private feedback at her that led to “anxiousness assaults.” Bay FC confirmed to USA TODAY Sports activities that an investigation was opened into the grievance, however an unbiased investigation “didn’t discover any proof of misconduct.” Within the second grievance reviewed by the Chronicle, a participant anonymously accused Montoya of “bullying” by means of the league’s tip line after the season concluded. (The outlet did not element allegations to keep away from figuring out the nameless participant.)
Bay FC mentioned the membership “applied new procedures to enhance our communications throughout the workforce” following the mid-season survey, together with govt teaching: “It is usually essential to know that the tip of season participant survey confirmed marked enchancment in Bay FC’s rating amongst the NWSL Golf equipment, enhancing from 11 out of 14 midseason (total) to six out of 14 on the finish of the 12 months.”
Two former gamers, nevertheless, countered Bay FC’s declare, telling the Chronicle reported that “the outcomes of the participant survey had been shared with the workforce however by no means introduced them up once more.”
The league’s investigation into Bay FC comes one month after the in a years-long investigation of participant abuse. The settlement stems again to a wave of bombshell studies in the course of the 2021 NWSL season, together with intensive allegations of abuse, sexual coercion, racism, harassment and different types of misconduct.
Contributing: Jason Anderson
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