MLS re-opens investigation into Philadelphia Union executive as team puts him on leave

Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner is under renewed scrutiny after Major League Soccer (MLS) reopened its investigation into him. The move comes just a day after an explosive report by The Guardian detailed six alleged incidents of misconduct, including racist and sexist language, homophobic slurs, and inappropriate physical contact with a staff member.

Tanner, who has been a widely respected executive in the league for seven years, denied all allegations in his initial statement to the media. However, following publication of The Guardian's report, MLS announced that it would reopen its investigation into Tanner.

The new allegations against Tanner span the bulk of his tenure at Philadelphia Union and include claims that he made misogynistic comments about a female referee, directed a homophobic slur at an MLS referee in 2023, spoke down to Black players "like they were subhuman," and touched a co-worker inappropriately numerous times. The investigation also centers on allegations that Tanner hired an underqualified coach who was allegedly abusive towards players on the Philadelphia Union II.

The Union has placed Tanner on administrative leave during the investigation, with the league encouraging anyone with relevant information to come forward through an anonymous reporting hotline. Despite not being able to corroborate all of the allegations in his initial investigation, MLS required Tanner to participate in a "structured remedial program focused on professional workplace conduct."

Tanner's reputation has been tarnished by these allegations, which have raised questions about his judgment and professionalism. The Philadelphia Union, who are currently in the midst of the MLS playoffs, will face NYC FC in the Eastern Conference semi-finals on Sunday evening.

As the investigation into Tanner continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the fallout from this scandal could have far-reaching consequences for not only Tanner but also the entire club and league.

I'm really disappointed in what's been going on with Ernst Tanner. Seven years of a respected executive and now it all comes crashing down? I think he needs to take some responsibility for his actions, you know? The allegations are super serious and it's not just about him, but the team, the club, and the whole league too. What's gonna happen if these allegations are true? It's not just about Tanner's job, but also the reputation of Philadelphia Union and MLS as a whole.

I'm glad the league is taking this seriously and opening up an investigation. That's the first step to fixing things . And I love that they're encouraging people to come forward with info – anonymously if needed . We need to get to the bottom of all this and make sure everyone involved is held accountable. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome!

Ugh I'm so over these "remedial programs" it's all just a PR stunt at this point. Ernst Tanner was already on thin ice after that initial report, and now it seems like MLS is just trying to save face. Meanwhile, the real victims here are the players and staff who have to deal with his toxic behavior. I don't buy that he's completely innocent either I mean, six alleged incidents of misconduct? That's not something you can just sweep under the rug.

And what's with the investigation being reopened after The Guardian published their report? It feels like they're just trying to placate everyone and avoid any more bad PR. And the Union's decision to put Tanner on administrative leave is just a Band-Aid on a much deeper wound I hope the league actually takes this seriously and takes action against him, because if they don't, it'll just be seen as a cover-up.

This scandal has the potential to really damage the reputation of the Union and MLS as a whole. The fact that Tanner is accused of making misogynistic comments and directing homophobic slurs at referees is particularly disturbing It's time for the league to take some real accountability here, rather than just going through the motions.

I'm telling you, something fishy is going on here... like, what's really going on with MLS? First of all, why is it taking them so long to investigate Tanner after The Guardian broke this story? It's like they're trying to sweep it under the rug. And what about all these 'allegations' that are coming out now? Six of them, can you believe it? That sounds like a lot of convenient coincidences if you ask me... Maybe Tanner is just a scapegoat for something bigger? I mean, have you seen the way MLS handles these types of situations? Always seems to be 'structured remedial programs' and 'professional workplace conduct'. Code for "we don't want to rock the boat" right?

I'm shocked , I mean, who knew? Ernst Tanner's been a respected figure in MLS for ages , and now these allegations are coming out of left field . I don't think it's fair that he was allowed to deny all the allegations initially , but I guess you can't expect him to just come out and say "oh yeah, I'm guilty" .

I mean, six alleged incidents? That's a lot . And if it's true that he made misogynistic comments about a female referee or spoke down to Black players ... that's just not right . I'm all for holding people accountable and making sure they're held to high standards , but maybe the league should've done more investigation before giving him a slap on the wrist .

I feel bad for the Philly Union fans who are still trying to enjoy their playoffs . Can you imagine having to deal with this stuff during the season? . And what about Tanner's future in the league? Will he be banned or something? . Guess we'll just have to wait and see how this whole thing plays out .

I'm so disappointed in what's going down with Ernst Tanner at Philly Union . Seven years of being respected in the league and now all that's thrown out the window because of some serious allegations. It makes me wonder how many people knew about this stuff and just chose to stay silent... I feel like MLS is finally taking steps to make things right, but at what cost? The union is getting destroyed right now with the playoffs on the line, it's a tough spot to be in . I'm curious to see if Tanner can come out of this unscathed or if his reputation is really done for .

I don't usually comment but... I'm kinda surprised by how fast the whole situation escalated . Seven years is a long time, and you'd think that some of these allegations might've been addressed earlier. But now, it's like everything came to a head at once .

The thing that really gets me is that these allegations have been out in the open for so long, but nothing was done about them initially . I mean, it's not like MLS was completely oblivious – they knew something was up, right? But I guess you can't make a move when there's no concrete evidence... yet .

It's gotta be tough on Tanner, and the Union as a whole, to deal with this kind of fallout . The playoffs are about to start, and this is all happening at the worst possible time . I just hope that everyone involved can come out of this with their heads held high .