By: Vihaan Majumdar
It’s seemingly the never ending case of “oh wait, there’s more”. Former coach of the US men’s national soccer team Gregg Berhalter caused whirlwinds when he publicly admitted in January of 2023 to having kicked his then-girlfriend (now wife) Rosalind, in an argument in 1991. The US Soccer Federation immediately launched an investigation into the matter, and delayed Berhalter’s contract renewal. However the scandal continued to get messier, as Berhalter also made the claim that he was blackmailed.
Berhalter previously made headlines when he criticized the attitude of one of his players at the World Cup, without naming said player. The player was then revealed to be Borussia Dortmund winger Gio Reyna, son of legendary midfielder Claudio Reyna. Reyna himself apologized publicly on Instagram and also privately to Berhalter and his staff. However, it was later revealed that Berhalter was forced to reveal the incident because Reyna’s mother, allegedly frustrated with the lack of playing time given to her son, had already informed the Federation, reportedly having hinted at it since her son did not play in the US’s first game against Wales. Additional reports claimed that she and her husband Claudio both sought to influence team decisions in favor of Gio, potentially in violation of FIFA ethics rules. Claudio at this time was sporting director for MLS club Austin FC, though he later resigned his position.
The investigation conducted by the law firm Alston & Bird alleged no wrongdoing on the part of the US Soccer Federation, noting that Berhalter had sought therapy after the incident and had made up with Rosalind. As of now, Berhalter remains a candidate for the head coaching position. Anthony Hudson is currently the interim coach as the team prepares for the CONCACAF Nations League.
