His circle Greg Burhalter What Coach of the United States national team was not missing controversial. Some were linked to his sportsmanship and decisions on calls and the use of certain players, and others to situations within the team, such as his crosses with Gio Reyna.
However, the biggest controversy comes three days later his contract with the USMNT will expire and with the North American team still mulling its possible renewal or exit. What happened? Berhalter issued a release through his social networks, in which he appears as much victim, as a victim.
— Gregg Berhalter (@GreggBerhalter_) January 3, 2023
The coach reported that during the Qatar 2022 World Cup he received one attempted extortionseeking to destabilize him and unseat him mid-tournament.
“During the World Cup, One person contacted US Soccer saying they had information that would destroy me. It was an attempt to use personal information from a long time ago to end my relationship with US Soccer.“.
What information was that? In the same statement, Berhalter himself made it public.
“We had been in a relationship for four months (with his now wife Rosalind) when an incident occurred that would affect the future of our relationship. One night, while drinking at a local bar, we got into a heated argument. She got physical and I kicked her legs. There are no excuses for my actions that night. It was an embarrassing moment, which I regret to this day.“.
Berhalter then went on to explain how he was working to prevent a repeat of the incident 31 years ago.
From his side, since US Soccer said they are investigating the situation. and that they will make the results public when they are determined. In addition, they commented that since last month they have been carrying out a review of the work of the National Team and that in the next few days they will announce who will be the technician at training for the month of January.
Statement from US Soccer: pic.twitter.com/h2x5rgZvWA
—US Soccer (@ussoccer) January 3, 2023
But just when it looked like the situation would end there, this Wednesday, January 4, even more shocking information emerged: according to ESPN, it was former player and father of Gio, Claudio Reynawho made the decision to writing messages to federation officials threatening to reveal “Sensitive details of coach’s past”.
Former USMNT captain Claudio Reyna, father of Gio Reyna, sent multiple messages to US Soccer officials during the World Cup threatening to reveal sensitive details about USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter’s past, multiple sources told ESPN. https://t.co/Hp1fDz0mJ0
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 4, 2023
Recall that there were confessions by Berhalter about a soccer player who was going to be expelled from the US National team almost in the middle of the World Cup and it turned out that he was referring to Reyna (even the soccer player’s agent, almost taking it for granted, questioned the coach’s attitude ).
Shortly after ESPN revealed this Wednesday, January 4, Gio Reyna’s mother, Daniellestated in a letter sent to FOX Sports, that she reported “the incident of domestic violence to the director of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) after Berhalter’s comments for his son for the World Cup.
“But I want to make it clear that I did not ask for Greg to be fired, I did not threaten, and I know nothing of any blackmail attempts.”he added in the statement.
After all, it was his Claudio Reyna who spoke The former footballer and father of Giovanni said: “I stand with my wife Danielle and her statement. I too was upset by Greg’s comments about Gio after the World Cup suspension and I also contacted Ernie Stewart on December 11th asking him not to talk about the matter any further. While in Qatar, I shared my disappointment about my son’s World Cup experience with close friends such as Ernie and Brian McBride (N. de R.: the administrator of the chosen one). However, never at no time did I threaten anyone; I would never do that.”
