The dominoes continue to fall across the NWSL following devastating revelations from the Sally Yates investigation.
Wednesday evening, the Board of Directors for the Chicago Red Stars released a statement, saying that they had ousted the team’s controlling owner Arnim Whisler from his position as Chairman of the Board.
“The Board of Directors of the Chicago Red Stars voted this morning to remove Arnim Whisler as Chairman of the Board, to transition him out of his board seat immediately with the Chicago Red Stars (Chicago Women’s Soccer Academy, LLC) and to codify his removal from any further participation with either club or board operations,” read the board’s statement.
“The Board was deeply disappointed after reading the Yates report and believes the club cannot move forward in rebuilding trust with players, staff and the Red Stars community with his continued involvement. Job one for board members is to continue building a culture where players, and all who work at the club, feel that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Lastly, the board wants to extend its gratitude for all who displayed such bravery in sharing their stories. Thank you for coming forward.”
The changes do not mean that Whisler has sold his share of the club. On Tuesday, he posted a statement to Chicago’s site saying that he had stepped down from the league’s Board of Governors and had given operational control of the club to the Red Stars’ “executive team.”
Whisler not gone yet
While Whisler’s step back being followed by the board’s move to strip him of power does provide some distance between an owner who per the Yates investigation repeatedly shielded former coach Rory Dames despite numerous complaints, it does not mean he is no longer involved with the club.
At the moment, Whisler still holds a controlling share of the club, and based on his history — which includes a claim he had stepped back from day-to-day control early in 2022, only for him to announce in Tuesday’s statement that he was only now moving away from operational control — it is impossible to believe that the team and organization will be free of his influence until he has divested his financial stake in the club.
Chicago, on Whisler’s watch, was found to have let players down beyond simply hiring and empowering Dames for many years. Players ended up having Whisler as a landlord rather than a proper team housing environment, while both the Yates investigation and Local 134 have said that statements Whisler made to them were later proven to be false or misleading. Dames was allowed to resign — and praised by a club statement announcing the move — just before a Washington Post report spelled out extensive allegations of sexist and racist comments, abusive conduct, and inappropriate relationships with players.
In other words, how can anyone believe that Whisler will actually stay out of team business? And how can the players and staff that remain heal and move on with him in place, even at a distance?
According to CBS Sports, the club’s board “wants to help facilitate a sale of Arnim’s shares,” but that necessarily means he still holds those shares.
CRS comms followed up on that, and added "The board wants to help facilitate a sale of Arnim’s shares in a timely process which is both prudent and when complete can lead Red Stars players, coaches and front office staff to a better future."
— Sañdra 💙💯⚽️ (@SandHerrera_) October 6, 2022
Red Stars supporters’ group Local 134 said they will “boycott all in-person events including attendance at games, merchandise purchases, and other Red Stars events that directly or indirectly benefit Arnim Whisler.” The group also urged fans who had already purchased 2023 season tickets to demand a refund in full.
Just as players and employees shouldn’t have to suffer through the environment Whisler fostered, fans should not have to choose between completely staying away and turning their backs on something they love or feeling like they’re supporting someone who has let them down in such an egregious manner.
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