U.S soccer president resigns after saying in gender discrimination filing that women players have less physical ability and responsibility than men
- Carlos Cordeiro resigned on Thursday night, three days after the organization filed papers in a gender discrimination lawsuit
- The papers said that women players had less physical ability and responsibility than the men
- Cordeiro announced his resignation on Twitter without even telling the federation’s communications staff
- He said he did not review the final arguments in the legal filing, and he would have objected to the language used if he had
Carlos Cordeiro resigned as U.S. Soccer Federation president on Thursday night, three days after the organization filed legal papers in a gender discrimination suit, claiming women players had less physical ability and responsibility than men.
His decision elevated former American midfielder Cindy Parlow Cone to become the first woman president in the history of the federation.
Cordeiro announced his resignation on Twitter without even telling the federation’s communications staff.
The United States Women’s National Team poses for a team photo before a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match against Japan on Wednesday
United States players Tierna Davidson, Lindsey Horan, Julie Ertz, Abby Dahlkemper, and Kelley O’Hara stand with their jerseys turned inside out during the playing of the national anthem before a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match against Japan
He stepped down on a day several USSF board members issued extraordinary rebukes that criticized the governing body’s legal filings. Among them were Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber and Cone, the federation’s vice president.
A night earlier, U.S. women wore their warmup jerseys inside-out to hide the federation crest during the national anthem before a game against Brazil.
Several of the federation’s sponsors issued this week backing the players and condemning the USSF.
‘It has become clear to me that what is best right now is a new direction,’ Cordeiro wrote.
‘The arguments and language contained in this week’s legal filing caused great offense and pain, especially to our extraordinary women’s national team players who deserve better. It was unacceptable and inexcusable.’
‘I did not have the opportunity to fully review the filing in its entirety before it was submitted, and I take responsibility for not doing so. Had I done so, I would have objected to the language,’ he wrote.
United States midfielder Samantha Mewis (3), goalkeeper Adrianna Franch, center, and forward Megan Rapinoe, right, stand with their jerseys turned inside out during the playing of the national anthem before a SheBelieves Cup women’s soccer match