Keith Olbermann: Suspend Hope Solo, fire U.S. soccer officials

Keith Olbermann called for Hope Solo’s immediate suspension Tuesday, two days after details from Solo’s 2014 arrest on suspicion of domestic violence charges were made public in an ESPN report.

The ESPN pundit also said U.S. women’s national team coach Jill Ellis and U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati should be fired over their handling of Solo’s domestic violence case.

“Solo deserves immediate suspension with all rights of appeal,” Olbermann said. “Ms. Ellis and Mr. Gulati, however, who have shown this condescending attitude of sports-first, reality-second, protect the bubble at all times and have been the worst possible role models for and the worst possible representatives of this country should be immediately dismissed.”

Olbermann, who was critical of the NFL’s handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence case, accused U.S. Soccer of putting the sport’s interests first instead of doing the right thing.

“These are not merely professional athletes in professional sports that we’re talking about,” Olbermann said. “Hope Solo, Coach Jill Ellis and President Sunil Gulati and representing this country, you and me; and clearly none of them is qualified to do so, certainly not now.

Solo, the star goalkeeper for the U.S. women’s World Cup team, which won its tournament opener Monday against Australia, was arrested last year after allegedly getting into a physical altercation with her nephew and half-sister. U.S. Soccer never disciplined Solo over the alleged incident and charges against her were later dropped on procedural grounds. Prosecutors have filed an appeal with the Superior Court of Washington.

Citing police records and two sworn depositions, ESPN reported Solo was combative with police officers and insulted them during her arrest. In interviews since her arrest, Solo has claimed she was the victim in the incident leading to her arrest.

Solo, 33, is widely recognized as one of the best goalkeepers in women’s soccer history. She holds the U.S. records for shutouts (83) and starts (164).

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