The organization representing Major League Soccer players yesterday disputed characterizations made by former FC Cincinnati head coach Ron Jans around his resignation following allegations that he used racial slurs.
In a statement, the Major League Soccer Players Association also pushed FC Cincinnati to establish a better team culture in the future.
Jans resigned the evening of Feb. 17 after reports that he used a racial epithet for African Americans and had made earlier, inappropriate references to slavery. The 61-year-old Dutch head coach was accused of singing along with song lyrics that included a racial slur in the team’s locker room. Jans says he didn’t mean to cause offense but acknowledged the situation had irreparably damaged relations on the team.
But the MLSPA says that a single locker room incident wasn’t the true root of the problem.
“We have been incredibly disappointed by the attempts to manipulate the public conversation over the last few days with false narratives and strategic leaks to the press,” a statement from MLSPA Executive Director Bob Foose released yesterday afternoon reads. “For example, the narrative that the conduct here involved singing along to song lyrics is completely false, despite the former coach’s assertions.”
Foose said that these and other statements “added to the toxicity of the atmosphere and encouraged further, deplorable abuse of players” and were “clear attempts to manipulate the truth and intimidate those who call out unacceptable behavior.
FC Cincinnati held a news conference yesterday afternoon about Jans’ departure. Team President Jeff Berding said he asked for Jans’ resignation Monday after a weekend investigation found patterns of “alarming” and “not acceptable” behavior beyond a single locker room incident. He said the team had been unaware of the issues prior to last week.
“We place utmost importance on a strong culture within our club, beginning in the locker room and with every person connected with FC Cincinnati — that they feel valued, respected and trusted,” Berding said at the news conference.
In his statement, MLSPA’s Foose called on FC Cincinnati to make substantive changes.
“It is our sincere hope that FC Cincinnati will learn from and address these mistakes, and begin to chart a new course forward, one that includes all of its players, current and former, with fairness and respect,” Foose’s statement reads.
This article appears in Feb 19-28, 2020.
