MEGAN RAPINOE praised England’s stars for supporting players battling against “systemic abuse” in the US women’s top tier.
This evening the midfielder, her USA team-mates and the Lionesses will wear teal armbands in solidarity with victims of sexual abuse.
The OL Reign star, 37, said the Lionesses’ duel with her team will be a “nice distraction” following the release of a report on abusive behaviour in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Rapinoe was speaking days after an independent investigation found that “verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct had become systemic” in the division.
The midfield ace said: “It’s horrifying.
“It has been very difficult for the players most affected, the names that we know and probably a lot of the names that we don’t know.
“We’re just thinking about them and trying to keep together as a group.
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“Our head coach (Vlatko Andonovich) has been amazing, just giving us the space and just taking the time to acknowledge what we’re going through.
“It’s been really difficult for everyone. Nobody ever wants to see anything like this.
“Hopefully this can be a moment in time when you say, none of this ever happens again.”
More than 200 NWSL players were spoken to as part of an inquiry led by law firm Sally Yates and King & Spalding LLP.
Their investigation was launched last year after Paul Riley was sacked from his role as North Carolina head coach following allegations of sexual misconduct.
The England-born coach has denied the accusations.
Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead and Rachel Daly are among the Lionesses who have spoken out in support of NWSL players who say decision-makers in the US women’s top tier had failed to protect players.
Rapinoe added: “I feel like there’s just so much solidarity between the things that we have to fight for.
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“Come kick-off, we will be competing on the pitch, but I feel like we’re all fighting together for the same things.
“To have this happen in our country, in our league, and to be able to bring that here in a very special moment for England, to have them acknowledge, what we’re going through – it means everything.”
When asked what action she hopes to see from football’s governing bodies on this issue, Rapinoe said: “The main thing is having some kind of policy in place.
“If there’s absolutely nothing in place, there’s nothing to hold people accountable to.
“Whether it’s from FIFA’s level or from confederations in, at least having policies in place or having hotlines that people can report to or having systems that have some teeth in them is really important.”
The USA’s match against the Lionesses will be the first time the two sides have faced each other since the SheBelieves Cup in March 2020.
Back then Rapinoe and her team-mates sealed a 2-0 win against England.
The California-born player added: “We’re really excited to play and that’s a nice distraction.
“This is an incredible game, an incredible moment, that sits nicely with this horrific thing.
“The players have pushed it to this point where it’s a sell-out crowd at Wembley with another team fighting for respect and fighting for the right treatment.
“This is a special moment for us to all come together and celebrate women’s football for all of the good that it is.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
