GOAL breaks down the stunning revelations from U.S. Soccer's report, and what it means for all involved
Claudio Reyna is one of the finest players American soccer has ever produced. That is undisputed. But his legacy and reputation are no longer defined by his stellar playing career. The Google searches won't bring you straight to stories about his on-field heroics or highlights of his best moments.
No, these days, Reyna's legacy is defined by all that's gone on between his family and Gregg Berhalter since the World Cup.
The clash between two of American soccer's most famous families plunged the entire U.S. men's national team into controversy as a decades-old domestic violence incident was dug up as retribution for USMNT and Borussia Dortmund star Gio Reyna's lack of playing time at the World Cup.
Following the results of an independent investigation released on Monday, it's become clear that while Berhalter's own transgressions were an isolated incident that he has publicly apologized for and doesn't deny, Reyna's were an out-of-control pattern that for too long went without discipline.
The report, put together by Alston & Bird, details a number of unsavory allegations about the Reyna family's influence within U.S. Soccer while also revealing a series of events that have seen Claudio Reyna evolve from USMNT hero into, as the report says, a "mean-spirited bully".
GOAL is here to break down the report, the series of incidents involving Reyna and what this all will mean for his reputation and employment going forward.
Getty ImagesWhat we knew
By now, all who follow American soccer know the general story, but it's worth a refresher.
Due to fitness issues, Gio Reyna is given a limited role at the World Cup by USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter, a longtime friend of the Reyna family. The winger doesn't handle it well initially and his effort in training drops. He is eventually given an ultimatum: try harder or go home. He apologizes, returns to the team and continues on.
Meanwhile, his parents, Claudio and Danielle, are unhappy and communicate that. with people around the program, and right after the World Cup, address it again with sporting director Earnie Stewart. During their talks with Stewart, Danielle reveals that Berhalter assaulted his now-wife and then-girlfriend Rosalind during their time at the University of North Carolina, where then-girlfriend Rosalind roomed with Danielle.
An investigation follows, both into the allegations made by the Reynas, the process of Berhalter's hiring and the manner in which those allegations were revealed on the heels of the 2022 World Cup.
Even prior that investigation, the Reynas' reputation had taken a hit, with many seeing them as overbearing parents who wielded a very personal decades-old incident involving two close friends to help their son. But, as it turns out, the family's World Cup actions were just the tip of the iceberg in what has been a longstanding pattern of meddling into their son's career.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe investigation itself
As part of the investigation, Alston & Bird contacted various figures around U.S. Soccer, including the Reynas and the Berhalters. Berhalter, the report says, was very forthcoming, speaking to investigators on the record without legal counsel while helping to facilitate interviews with other persons of interest.
He and his wife acknowledged the incident, which occurred when the two were teenagers.
Both corroborated the fact that Berhalter was immediately remorseful, went to counseling, volunteered and has never done anything similar in all of the years since. It was a mistake that, to this day, still haunts him, he says, but one he didn't run away from once it became public.
By the end, the investigation determined that Berhalter, legally, would not be a risk to remain USMNT head coach – and U.S. Soccer has subsequently kept the door open for him to be brought back.
As for the Reynas, investigators said they were less forthcoming. The report says: "We were less impressed with the Reynas’cooperationduring the investigation."
After several attempts at securing interviews, Danielle Reyna had two brief conversations with investigators, in which she initially denied ever telling Stewart about the Berhalter incident. She called investigators back shortly after and changed her story, detailing a "physical fight".
Claudio Reyna, meanwhile, did not speak to investigators, with the family's attorney instead offering to give a "proffer" of information on their client's behalf.
In the end, Claudio Reyna did not interview with investigators in any way.
Getty'Inappropriate, bullying, mean-spirited'
The investigation says that the 2022 World Cup was far from the first time Reyna tried to use his status with U.S. Soccer to assist his son Gio's career.
The report details a "pattern of outreach" dating back several years, with several unnamed figures revealing incidents involving Claudio Reyna.
One source described Reyna's interactions with those at U.S. Soccer as “inappropriate,” “bullying,” and “mean-spirited", as the legendary midfielder is said to have meddled several times.
In February 2016, the report says, Reyna complained to U.S. Soccer officials about a red card that his son received in a match as he attempted to persuade the federation to overturn the dismissal and allow the midfielder to play in the next game. U.S. Soccer did not overturn the decision.
Stewart said that Reyna began making complaints about his son's playing time within U.S. Soccer as early as 2019, when he reached out to complain about his son's role at the U-17 World Cup. Additionally, Reyna hit out at what he saw as inadequate travel arrangements as his son did not fly business class to join the team.
Stewart told investigators that he has never had similar discussions with other parents.
Berhalter, meanwhile, revealed that he too had received complaints from Reyna during that U-17 World Cup, as his longtime friend texted him to say that then-Under-17 boss Raphael Wicky was "the worst coach". Berhalter also provided the investigation with text messages from 2019 and 2020 that saw Reyna criticize his son's treatment, coaches and travel arrangements.
“When things don’t go great for Gio, [the Reynas] pivot and go into attack mode," Berhalter told investigators.
Noah K. Murray'Can we get real and get male refs?'
Perhaps the most damning revelation from the report details an incident that saw Reyna complain about a female referee following a 2018 match.
“Field, referee everything!! So embarrassing all the way around,” Reyna said in an email before sending a follow-up message that stated: “And in all honest [sic] can we get real and have male refs for a game like this. Its embarrassing guys. What are we trying to prove? A game like this deserves bett[e]r attention."
An unnamed person interviewed by the report circulated the email internally, saying: “This is truly sad to see. I believe we should regroup internally . . . and decide the path we want to take. After this and his communication last week, this is not appropriate or acceptable.”