The Abdication of Responsibility
How the US Soccer Board of Directors Is Using Carlos Cordeiro as a Scapegoat, Yet Not Much Has Changed
At 9:06 PM EST on March 12, 2020, Carlos Cordeiro made public his resignation, effective immediately, as President of the United States Soccer Federation. Many celebrated this decision, and I have stated for some time that his failure to lead well was hurting the Federation.
It has been an incredible privilege to serve as the President of U.S. Soccer.
— Carlos Cordeiro (@CACSoccer) March 13, 2020
My one and only mission has always been to do what is best for our Federation.
After discussions with the Board of Directors, I have decided to step down, effective immediately. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/4B7siuIqcL
I am glad to see that USSF sponsors spoke up and against the despicable and deplorable comments and legal arguments being deployed in the USWNT vs USSF case by the Federation’s legal team. Media members and others joined the call for change.
The question is this: Did anything really change with Cordeiro’s resignation?
After all as Sebastian Salazar points out, the US Soccer President is a member of the US Soccer Board of Directors and the President isn’t the only one responsible here:
As we focus on Carlos Cordeiro’s resignation today, it’s important to understand the role – and decision-making authority – of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors. A thread on #USSF, #EqualPay and #USWNT…
— Sebastian Salazar (@SebiSalazarFUT) March 13, 2020
According to USSF bylaws, all of the Federation’s authority (governance/supervisory/administrative) is consolidated under BoD. BoD took further control in ‘18 when it approved organizational changes aimed at allowing the BoD to ‘play a greater role in all Federation activities’.
— Sebastian Salazar (@SebiSalazarFUT) March 13, 2020
At the time of those changes, a USSF press release stated that ‘involving board members earlier in the decision-making process’ was a primary goal of the reorganization.
— Sebastian Salazar (@SebiSalazarFUT) March 13, 2020
Now let’s fast forward to August of ‘19. One month after winning the World Cup, the 28 USWNT players named in the Gender Discrimination lawsuit against USSF addressed a letter specifically and directly to the Board of Directors.
— Sebastian Salazar (@SebiSalazarFUT) March 13, 2020
In the letter, WNT players stated they were:
— Sebastian Salazar (@SebiSalazarFUT) March 13, 2020
– Eager to sit down with USSF to discuss equal pay
– ‘Fervently’ wanting to break cycle of discord with USSF
– Prepared to take equal pay fight to trial, despite belief both sides would benefit from expedient equal pay settlement
Despite this letter, U.S. Soccer and its Board of Directors moved forward with their legal strategy versus the USWNT players. As a result of the fallout from this legal strategy, Carlos Cordeiro is no longer USSF President. The Board of Directors remains.
— Sebastian Salazar (@SebiSalazarFUT) March 13, 2020
The fact remains that the same group of individuals remain. As listed here (https://www.ussoccer.com/governance/board-of-directors), the US Soccer Board of Directors is as follows:
President
Cindy Parlow Cone (Acting President until the 2021 US Soccer AGM)
Vice President
Vacant (Vacated until the 2021 US Soccer AGM pending if Cindy Parlow Cone runs and wins the Presidential election)
Immediate Past President (non-voting)
Carlos Cordeiro
Athlete Representatives
Chris Ahrens, Carlos Bocanegra, Lori Lindsey, (Lindsay Tarpley Snow – Alternate)
Pro Council Representatives
Don Garber, Steve Malik
Adult Council Representatives
Richard Moeller, John Motta
Youth Council Representatives
Dr. Pete Zopfi, Tim Turney
At Large Representative
Mike Cullina
Independent Directors
Lisa Carnoy, Patti Hart, Juan Uro
CEO/Secretary General (non-voting)
Vacant
Every one of these individuals are culpable. Several Board Members have admitted they did not know the legal tactics and strategy employed by the legal team under the supervision of the Board. Not knowing is not an excuse, but rather an indictment on their ability to provide oversight.
Carlos Cordeiro’s resignation should not be viewed as enough. They are all responsible, and it’s time for more resignations. This current US Soccer Board of Directors has shown an inability to provide oversight, leadership, and responsibility repeatedly.
This isn’t a moment of poor leadership. This is a pattern of poor leadership. The culture of the Board will not change without new faces and new leaders as well as a full reform of the makeup, positions, and policies governing the US Soccer Board of Directors.
Here is a link to today’s show discussing Cordeiro’s resignation and the US Soccer Board of Directors: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2020-03-13-featuring-chris-kessell-and-kartik-krishnaiyer/id1432900669?i=1000468341472
