Hope Solo suspended from USWNT for 'cowards' remark towards Swedish team

Hope Solo will have plenty of time to think about choosing her words more carefully after U.S. Soccer announced it has suspended the rabble-rousing goaltender from the U.S. Women’s National Team for six months citing conduct that is contrary to the organization’s principles.

The suspension comes after Solo called Sweden cowards following the Americans’ elimination from the Olympics in the quarterfinal round. The Aug. 12 loss to Sweden on penalty kicks ended the U.S.’s run of three consecutive gold medal wins.

“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. “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.”

Hope Solo responded to the suspension:

pic.twitter.com/z4lCvGnQDq

— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) August 25, 2016

Sweden, coached by former U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, eliminated the U.S. on penalty kicks after the teams remained tied 1-1 after 120 minutes. Solo took exception to Sweden playing conservatively, which forced the U.S. to be in the rare position of chasing, not controlling, the pace of play.

“I think we played a bunch of cowards,” Solo said. “Sweden dropped off. They didn’t want to open play. They didn’t want to pass the ball. They didn’t want to play great soccer. It was a combative game, a physical game. Exactly what they wanted and exactly what their game plan was.”

Solo sort of apologized for using that particular c-word but her post game comments were not supported by teammates, who roundly criticized the outspoken goalie.

This was the full context of my comments today. Thank you @GrantWahl. Losing sucks. I'm really bad at it. https://t.co/s5Mckg8o6B

— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) August 12, 2016

And this isn’t the first time Solo has stirred up controversy.

Solo was arrested and charged with two counts of domestic violence in 2014 when an alleged drunken incident which involved her half-sister and nephew went public. The charges were dismissed in 2015 but subsequently reinstated.

The trouble-making goal keep was also suspended for 30 days last summer after taking a joy ride in the team van with her husband, former NFL tight end Jeramy Stevens — who pleaded no contest to driving the van while intoxicated.

Conveniently, that benching was over before the USNWT started play in the  World Cup. 

As a result of her most recent suspension, Solo will not be eligible for national team selection until February.

Just guessing there aren’t any important tournaments for Solo to miss during that six-month time-out.

Sweden's soccer players use backup goalie's bare butt for target practice

The Sweden men's soccer team lost a disappointing Euro 2012 game against Ukraine on Monday and— after some critics back home made the team the butt of jokes— some of the players used one of their own bare backsides for target practice.

After Tuesday's practice session for players who were not involved in the team's loss against Ukraine, a group of players stood in a circle playing a game of keeping the ball in the air.  Backup goaltender Johan Wiland lost— and as punishment— had to walk to a nearby wall, pull down his shorts and point his bottom towards his teammates.  They each took turns aiming balls at him from about 20 yards away.

Now a Swedish anti-bullying group is up in arms about the bad example it sets for children.



Team members now have to respond to criticism in Sweden from Friends— a group that sponsors the team's national stadium in Stockholm— for using Wiland's bare backside for a bulls eye after a video of the private training session was published by the Swedish newspaper Expressen.

Friends general secretary, Lars Arrhenius, told Expressen the players were being "incredibly bad role models."

Several of the Swedish players said the whole thing is being blown out of proportion.

"It's just a game," said midfielder Pontus Wembloom.  "It's not bullying if everyone wants to take part."

Defender Martin Olsson said the team often plays such games during training and he has been used as a target as well.

Wembloom cited an online campaign— that made fun of Sweden's Mikael Lustig's blown defense for the 2-1 loss— on social media networks called "Hold a Post," where fans posted photos of themselves holding on to lamp posts, light poles or any other poles.

"I think that's bullying," Wembloom said. "But Lustig takes it coolly and is just laughing about it."