Lisa Baird, NWSL Commissioner, resigns amid Paul Riley abuse scandal

Amid a sexual harassment scandal, National Women’s Soccer League Commissioner Lisa Baird resigned from her post, the league announced late Friday night. Her resignation comes after some 19 months on the job and a day after reports published the accounts of two former players who claimed misconduct, including sexual coercion, by North Carolina coach Paul Riley.

Riley was fired by the Courage on Thursday and the allegations touched off a wave of condemnation by players that forced this weekend’s games to be called off.

Upping the ante, FIFA, on Friday, opened an investigation into the case. Apart from the world body, US Soccer, too, said that they will be doing an independent investigation.

US Soccer was instrumental in founding the NWSL in 2013 and helped support the league until last year when it became independent. The federation continues its financial support of the league.

“Player safety and respect is the paramount responsibility of every person involved in this game. That is true across every age, competition and ability level,” US Soccer President Cindy Cone said in a statement.

“We owe it to each athlete, each fan and the entire soccer community to take every meaningful action in our power to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”

US Soccer suspended Riley’s coaching license after former NSWL players Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim accused Riley of abuse.

FIFA told The Associated Press it was “deeply concerned” by the case and will now be seeking further details from American soccer authorities about the issues raised.

“Due to the severity and seriousness of the allegations being made by players, we can confirm that FIFA’s judicial bodies are actively looking into the matter and have opened a preliminary investigation,” FIFA said in a statement to the AP.

“As part of this, FIFA will be reaching out to the respective parties, including US Soccer and NWSL, for further information about the various safeguarding concerns and allegations of abuse that have been raised.”

Riley, on the other hand, refuted the claims and said that the allegations were “completely untrue.”

Outcry over the allegations rocked the league and forced this weekend’s games to be called off. The NWSL Players’ Association said it hoped fans would understand and support the decision.

“It is OK to take space to process, to feel and to take care of yourself,” the union said. “In fact, it’s more than OK, it’s a priority. That, as players, will be our focus this weekend.”

(With inputs from Associated Press)