On one side of his mouth, U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati claims ultimate responsibility for the men's national team's failure to reach the 2018 World Cup. On the other side, however, he clearly refuses to hold himself accountable.
"I certainly take responsibility for us not getting the job done and getting to Russia," Gulati said Friday morning, only to prove that he actually doesn't own up to that responsibility.
On the same day that Bruce Arena resigned as national team coach, Gulati clung tightly to the role he has held as U.S. Soccer president since 2006.
"No I don't plan to resign," Gulati said. "It's not the right thing to talk about my personal future plans in terms of the U.S. Soccer presidency."
In his first conference call with media since the U.S. men's team's World Cup hopes were dashed in an embarrassing 2-1 loss to Trinidad and Tobago, Gulati refused to resign or even promise that he won't seek another four-year team.
Even though the U.S. finished a pathetic fifth in the six-team CONCACAF World Cup qualifying hexagonal round, Gulati still won't let go of his post.
At a time when U.S. Soccer needs wholesale changes, Gulati clearly fails to acknowledge that he must go. He must take true responsibility for the U.S. missing the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
For true wholesale changes to happen within U.S. Soccer, Gulati must be removed from his post if he refuses to go. There's no doubt that Gulati already would have been fired in true soccer countries after such a brutal embarrassment.
For those hoping that Gulati would at least not run for another team, he said he will decide if he'll run or not "in the coming weeks."
The failure to reach the 2018 World Cup is the biggest strike against Gulati's leadership, but he must also be held accountable for the men's Under-23 team's failure to earn a spot at the last two Olympic Games.
For now, Gulati would only say that he and U.S. Soccer are committed to evaluating all segments of soccer development in America
He promises to look into America's controversial "pay to play model and inner-city" soccer opportunities.
Unlike almost every other soccer country in the world, the U.S. soccer system is dependent on a pay-to-play that rewards suburban middle class families who can afford to pay expensive club dues and squeezes out poor families who cannot afford club fees.
The American system is inverted compared to true soccer powers where clubs pay to develop and discover talented players regardless of socioeconomic status.
"Where we need to make major changes we'll do that," Gulati said. "Where we need to make incremental changes we'll do that."
Unfortunately for American soccer fans, though, Gulati refuses to make the change that is most needed at this time.
"Sure I can understand the frustrations with people. Sure," he said.
Gulati feels your pain, but your pain isn't enough for him to hold himself accountable.
The most embarrassing week in U.S. Soccer history ended with Gulati still atop the federation, and that's a shame.
Until Gulati resigns or refuses to seek another four-year term, we must consider Friday as another step back for soccer in America.
