Hope Solo, the controversial former United States goalkeeper, is running for president of the US Soccer Federation. The 36-year-old announced her surprise candidacy on Thursday night on Facebook.
Solo, who brings a crowded field to nine candidates, is the second woman to announce a bid for the job, joining Soccer United Marketing president Kathy Carter.
“We need passionate and intelligent soccer people leading the way at US Soccer. The business strategy at US Soccer cannot continue to be profit before progress,” Solo wrote. “I know exactly what US Soccer needs to do, I know exactly how to do it, and I possess the fortitude to get it done.”
Big news. ⚽️🇺🇸💪https://t.co/45xkV0ogR7
— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) December 8, 2017
Solo has the required three nomination letters from voting members needed to formally enter the race, according to ESPN.
Other candidates in the race include former USA national team players Paul Caligiuri, Eric Wynalda and Kyle Martino as well as Carter, US Soccer vice president Carlos Cordeiro, Boston lawyer Steve Gans, New York lawyer Michael Winograd and Paul LaPointe, Northeast Conference manager of the United Premier Soccer League.
The election will be held in February. The deadline for filing the necessary paperwork is 12 December.
Solo is by far the most controversial candidate in the race to replace incumbent Sunil Gulati, who recently announced he was not standing for re-election. Her tenure with the national team ended following the Rio Olympics, when she branded Sweden “cowards” for their defensive style of play following the USA’s defeat in the quarter-finals. She was suspended from the team shortly thereafter and has not returned. Solo recently settled a grievance with US Soccer over the matter.
Solo also been dogged by several off-the-field controversies. Those include a domestic violence case stemming from a 2014 altercation at a family member’s home in Washington state.
She recently accused Sepp Blatter of having sexually assaulted her at Fifa’s Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in January 2013. “This allegation is ridiculous,” said Blatter, the former Fifa president.
Solo said she is campaigning on four core principles: to create a winning culture in US Soccer, starting with youth development; pushing for equal pay for the women’s national team and all women within US Soccer; addressing the “pay-to-play” model to make soccer accessible to all; and stressing transparency within the federation.
“What we have lost in America is belief in our system, in our coaches, in our talent pool, and in the governance of US Soccer,” she said. “We now must refocus our goals and come together as a soccer community to bring about the changes we desire.”
