CHICAGO -- U.S. women's goalkeeper Hope Solo was suspended Wednesday for six months by U.S. Soccer for disparaging comments about Sweden following the Americans' early departure from the Rio Olympics.
Solo called the Swedes "a bunch of cowards" for focusing on defense rather than attacking the three-time defending champion U.S. team. Sweden ousted the U.S. 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw in a quarterfinal match.
U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said Solo's comments were "unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we require from our National Team players."
"Beyond the athletic arena, and beyond the results, the Olympics celebrate and represent the ideals of fair play and respect," Gulati said. "We expect all of our representatives to honor those principles, with no exceptions."
The 35-year-old Solo, who was previously suspended for 30 days early in 2015 for her conduct, will not be eligible for selection to the national team until February.
Solo was a lightning rod during the Olympic tournament, irking fans in Brazil when she posted a photo on social media of herself covered with mosquito netting and armed with insect repellant. Fans booed her mercilessly and hollered "Zika!" each time she kicked downfield.
Then she caused a stir with her "cowards" comment.
Notre Dame coach
reacts to player arrests
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said he had the same feelings a parent would have when he heard six Fighting Irish football players had been arrested in two separate incidents over the weekend.
"Like any other father, my first one was disappointment. Then I think that disappointment kind of moved on to embarrassment for the university. Then I was mad as hell," he said Wednesday in his first public comments since the arrests. "Those are the three stages I went through."
Starting safety Max Redfield, running back Dexter Williams, linebacker Te'Von Coney, receiver Kevin Stepherson and cornerback Ashton White were in a car stopped Friday night for allegedly speeding in Fulton County, about 40 miles south of South Bend. A state trooper said he detected the odor of marijuana and with the help of a drug-sniffing dog, he found the marijuana and a handgun in the car.
The five face preliminary charges of misdemeanor marijuana possession. Redfield, Stepherson and Williams face an additional misdemeanor charge of possession of an unlicensed handgun. The Fulton County prosecutor has not yet filed formal charges.
In a separate incident, cornerback Devin Butler was accused of tackling a police officer and punching him during an altercation outside a bar near campus. He is charged with felony counts of resisting law enforcement and battery against a public safety official.
A not guilty plea was entered on Butler's behalf Wednesday by St. Joseph Superior Court Magistrate Elizabeth Hardtke during his initial court appearance. Butler told Hardtke he plans to hire a lawyer. He declined to comment to reporters afterward. He is scheduled for an initial hearing on Sept. 1.
On Sunday, Kelly kicked Redfield off the team and indefinitely suspended Butler, who already was out until October with a broken foot. Redfield had been sent home before the Fiesta Bowl for violating team rules.
Kelly said the other four players are practicing with the team and will be available to play in the opener against Texas unless the university takes action.
Sports on 08/25/2016