the Portland thistles The staff introduced on Tuesday that it had fired athletic coach Pierre Sobrier and assistant coach Sophie Clough following the Nationwide Soccer League’s investigations into two separate incidents wherein they have been concerned.
Soubrier was investigated by the NWSL for administering codeine-containing medicine to gamers within the staff’s semifinal match towards the San Diego Wave on October 22. Clough was investigated for giving an undesirable kiss to a participant’s neck throughout the NWSL Championship celebration on October 29. Each incidents have been reported by the Thorns to the NWSL.
The allegations towards each Soubrier and Clough have been confirmed by NWSL investigators in violation of league coverage. The league really useful a 12 months’s unpaid depart for each Soubrier and Clough, however the membership went as far as to cancel them.
“Portland Thorns FC stays dedicated to following all NWSL insurance policies,” the Thorns stated in an announcement offered to The Oregonian/OregonLive. “The membership has notified the league and has cooperated totally with the league’s investigation into allegations of misconduct by athletic coach Pierre Soubrier and assistant coach Sophie Clough. Upon receiving the ultimate outcomes of the NWSL investigation, the membership has terminated the employment of each Soubrier and Clough. The well being and security of the gamers is our highest precedence.”
Soubrier is the husband of Thorns midfielder Crystal Dunn and was named the staff’s head athletic coach in 2019. The NWSL additionally present in its investigation that staff doctor Breanne Brown equipped Soubrier with a separate managed substance at his request, however he later turned uncomfortable with it and advised Soubrier that he mustn’t handle it. The league discovered that Dr. Brown didn’t violate the legislation or college coverage.
The league discovered that within the case of the drug containing codeine, one was given to 2 gamers with out knowledgeable consent.
The league’s investigative report acknowledged that “Sobrier was discovered to have administered the managed substance to gamers on a number of events with out a prescription and medical supervision, in violation of federal and state legal guidelines and league coverage.” “Furthermore, Sobrier administered medicine to one of many gamers with out her knowledgeable consent.”
Clough joined the membership as assistant coach below Mark Parsons in 2016 and remained on workers throughout supervisor Ryan Wilkinson’s solely season with the Thorns. Allegations of bullying habits by Clough in direction of gamers have been additionally investigated by the NWSL however are unsubstantiated.
Tuesday’s capturing is the newest chapter in a collection of scandals which have plagued the Thorns previously 16 months, courting again to revelations in 2021 that former coach Paul Riley sexually harassed and coerced former gamers Mana Chim and Sinead Farrelly. Since then, I’ve encountered thorns A number of investigationsfired executives Mike Golub And Gavin Wilkinsonhe received NWSL Championship Watch Ryan Wilkinson out of the blue give up, climaxing Merritt Paulson He steps down as CEO and later pronounces that he’s promoting Thorns.
Simply final month, Ryan Wilkinson — who led the Thorns to the title in her first season as coach — Resigned After an NWSL investigation cleared her of an alleged relationship with participant Emily Mengs. The 2 expressed mutual romantic emotions for one another by way of textual content messages.
The thorns have been too He was fined $1 million by the NWSL for the membership’s position in Riley’s alleged abuse of gamers.
Poulson has not offered an replace on his efforts to promote the Thorns since saying in December the sale of the membership.
– Ryan Clarke, rclarke@oregonian.com, Twitter: @tweet