Former US national soccer coach Greg Berhalter has expressed “sadness” over revelations that he kicked his future wife in 1991 and subsequent blackmail allegations following the termination of his contract.
The USMNT has named Anthony Hudson as temporary head coach for next January’s camps and friendlies after Burhalter’s contract expires at the end of 2022.
At the end of 2022, the team announced that a “complete review of the USMNT program after the 2022 FIFA World Cup” was still underway.
Verhalter led the team to World Cup 2022, but ultimately lost to the Netherlands in the Round of 16.
The coaching change came during a turbulent period in Berhalter’s personal life that followed. CNN reported he was forced to admit to “kicking his wife” in 1991. Burhalter reportedly tried to stave off “blackmail” messages from former U.S. captain Claudio Reina and his wife Daniel, who allegedly retaliated against him by naming his son. He admitted. Geo plays a limited role in Qatar’s games.
In a Thursday interview with Harvard Business Review, Berhalter said: Our whole family is saddened by these events. That’s what we want to move forward with. The worst part for me is her heartbreak for her wife, it was her story to tell. ”
Earlier, in a lengthy message posted on his personal Twitter account, he discussed the domestic violence incident and alleged extortion plot.
‘[…] I’m sharing this story for the first time in 31 years because it’s important to understand that it was the event that shaped me, not what defined me,” he wrote in a statement. A decision made in a bad moment at 18. Rosalind and I have had a wonderful trip together. ”
Reina insisted she warned U.S. Soccer about the alleged domestic violence, but didn’t threaten Barhalter. ESPN.
“To set the record straight, I called [US Soccer sporting director] Ernie Stewart was on December 11, shortly after news broke that Greg had made negative comments about my son Gio at a leadership conference,” she said in a statement Wednesday.
Berhalter said he was considering sending home players who were “clearly not living up to expectations on and off the field.” In a meetingThat player later turns out to be a young Reina, according to Tom Bogart of MLBsoccer.com.
“I have known Ernie for many years and consider him a close friend. And I wanted to let him know that I feel very personally betrayed by my actions, “someone my family has considered friends for decades,” Reina said. I was.
She went on to claim that the statements made by Burhalter “greatly minimized the abuse of the night in question,” and that the coach’s wife, Rosalind, was her roommate, teammate, and best friend. said it was.
According to ESPN, Reyna also refused to send threatening messages.
“While in Qatar, I shared my frustration with my son’s World Cup experience with many close friends, Ernie and Brian McBride. No,” he said in a statement.
US Soccer, through a third party, is investigating the incident and assessing Verhalter’s performance at the 2022 World Cup.
