The Manchester United Women manager, Marc Skinner, has backed the National Women’s Soccer League players who this week halted play mid-game in the United States to protest over alleged abuse in their league. They were showing solidarity with the two women who have made allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Paul Riley, the North Carolina Courage coach.
Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim, who are both former NWSL footballers, made the claims in a report published in The Athletic last month. Riley, who was subsequently sacked by the Courage, denies any wrongdoing.
Skinner, who took over at United in the summer, formerly coached the NWSL’s Orlando Pride. He was asked about the show of support, in which players linked arms in the sixth minute of games on Wednesday.
“One of the things I absolutely adored about the NWSL was how players will stand up for what they believe in,” he said. “If all the allegations are true and everything: absolutely those players [should] want to be protected. It should not happen. I thank the players for standing up for what they believe is right and getting the justice they deserve.”
The 38-year-old, whose side host Manchester City in the derby at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday, also talked about the procedures he employs as a man working in women’s sport. He was previously a teacher and his partner is the former England defender Laura Bassett.
“I was a teacher before a soccer coach – so I’ve always done that because we always did safeguarding training,” he said. “[For example] you don’t lock yourself in a room on your own [with anyone], you’re always visible. You don’t inappropriately touch players in terms of any contact that’s not welcome – a fist bump, something like that [is OK].
“I like to say it’s common sense but I know it’s not. You have to train it. It’s absolutely a part of everything I do. I made a deal I would never work with my partner in football, because I felt that it would cross the divide.”
United have won three of their four Women’s Super League matches and are fourth. Manchester City, on the other hand, have won only once and sit third-bottom. “I expect it to be a wonderfully electric kind of moment,” Skinner said. “For us it’s another team we have to play with the added emotion of it being one of these games. Where I want us to get is that we are ruthless regardless of the opponent.”
