Racing Louisville players 'horrified' by abuse allegations against ex-coach Christy Holly

Racing Louisville FC players have praised former teammate Erin Simon and thanked fans for their support in a Saturday statement released on social media in the wake of an explosive report that detailed allegations of sexual abuse by the club's former coach.

Six days after the 172-page report by former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, the players called the actions by ex-coach Christy Holly, who was fired in August 2021 without any publicly acknowledged reason, "an unimaginable horror" and called on Racing executives and ownership to cooperate fully with the "ongoing investigation" being conducted jointly by the National Women's Soccer League and its players association.

"Silence is no longer an option," the statement read.

The players spoke out in support of their former teammate, who went public with the allegations when she agreed to have her name attached to the Yates report, and others around the NWSL who have spoken out about abuses they suffered. Simon, who left Racing in the summer and now plays for Leicester City FC in England, accused Holly of sexually assaulting her during a film session when he reached his hand down her pants and up her shirt each time "for every pass (she) (expletive) up," and also verbally abused her.

"Their bravery and resilience have inspired us and so many others to use their voices to demand change," the players' statement read.

Louisville City FC supporters protested at Wednesday's game in support of the women's team — both teams are owned and operated by Soccer Holdings — with silence during the first half and calls for president James O'Connor to be fired. That came hours after the club released a statement, signed by O'Connor, following nearly 48 hours of silence after the report went public, that acknowledged the clubs failings but did not say anyone in the front office would be relieved of their duties.

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Read the full statement by Racing's players below:

"We, the players of Racing Louisville, are deeply saddened and horrified by the findings of U.S. Soccer's investigation as detailed in the Sally Yates report. We commend and support our former teammate, Erin Simon, and the other courageous players that have come forward and shed light on the system abuses in women's soccer. Their bravery and resilience have inspired us and so many others to use their voices to demand change.

"We hope the NWSL and NWSLPA joint investigation will continue to uncover the remaining truths we deserve and demand. The conclusion of this investigation will give us much needed insight and recommendations on the future of our club. The systemic abuse that has plagued this league for far too long is both infuriating and unacceptable. No human being should ever feel unsafe in their work environment. The fact that this abuse and harassment occurred within our club is an unimaginable horror. We expect the club's full cooperation in the ongoing investigation, as silence is no longer an option.

"To our fans and community, we want to thank you for your continued support and love during this difficult time. While we understand your outrage, we urge you to continue to stand behind the players as we await the results of this investigation. The past few days have been emotionally exhausting as players across the league relive past traumas. However, the overwhelming support has strengthened our resolve to vehemently demand solutions for change and a better future for all those who come after us."

Follow assistant sports editor Jake Adams on Twitter @jakeadams520 or email him at jadams@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NWSL report: Racing Louisville players 'horrified' by findings