Philadelphia Union Executive Ernst Tanner to Face Reopened Investigation Amid Allegations of Racist, Sexist Language and Inappropriate Behavior.
Major League Soccer (MLS) has reopened its investigation into Philadelphia Union sporting director Ernst Tanner following a new article published by The Guardian. Tanner had previously been under investigation in late January after the league received a complaint from the MLS Players Association, which outlined numerous allegations of racist, sexist, and homophobic language, as well as instances of inappropriate physical contact.
The claims against Tanner include misogynistic comments made towards female referees, homophobic slurs directed at an MLS referee in 2023, and derogatory remarks about Black players. Additionally, he allegedly touched a co-worker inappropriately "numerous times" and hired an underqualified coach who was abusive to players on the reserve team.
MLSA alleged that these actions are not only unprofessional but also create a hostile work environment for female referees and players. Despite being unable to corroborate all the allegations during its initial investigation, MLS decided to reopen the inquiry after new information came to light.
The Philadelphia Union has placed Tanner on administrative leave while the investigation unfolds. The club stated that their top priority remains the well-being of their players, fans, staff, and community.
Tanner's reputation as one of the most respected executives in MLS history is now under scrutiny. During his seven-year tenure with the Union, the team won its first two trophies and consistently produced players for the US national team. However, Tanner has always denied the allegations against him.
This development comes at a critical time for the Philadelphia Union, who are currently participating in the MLS playoffs. On Sunday evening, they will face off against NYC FC in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, and fans are left wondering how this situation might impact the team's performance on the field.
Major League Soccer (MLS) has reopened its investigation into Philadelphia Union sporting director Ernst Tanner following a new article published by The Guardian. Tanner had previously been under investigation in late January after the league received a complaint from the MLS Players Association, which outlined numerous allegations of racist, sexist, and homophobic language, as well as instances of inappropriate physical contact.
The claims against Tanner include misogynistic comments made towards female referees, homophobic slurs directed at an MLS referee in 2023, and derogatory remarks about Black players. Additionally, he allegedly touched a co-worker inappropriately "numerous times" and hired an underqualified coach who was abusive to players on the reserve team.
MLSA alleged that these actions are not only unprofessional but also create a hostile work environment for female referees and players. Despite being unable to corroborate all the allegations during its initial investigation, MLS decided to reopen the inquiry after new information came to light.
The Philadelphia Union has placed Tanner on administrative leave while the investigation unfolds. The club stated that their top priority remains the well-being of their players, fans, staff, and community.
Tanner's reputation as one of the most respected executives in MLS history is now under scrutiny. During his seven-year tenure with the Union, the team won its first two trophies and consistently produced players for the US national team. However, Tanner has always denied the allegations against him.
This development comes at a critical time for the Philadelphia Union, who are currently participating in the MLS playoffs. On Sunday evening, they will face off against NYC FC in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, and fans are left wondering how this situation might impact the team's performance on the field.
I'm really disappointed to hear about Ernst Tanner. He was like a legend in the soccer world, but it turns out he had a dark side. I mean, who uses that kind of language? 
And allegedly touching people inappropriately? That's just wrong. The MLS Players Association and female referees deserve so much better than that.
The Philadelphia Union needs to get their act together, both on and off the field. Fans have a right to know what's going on, especially when it comes to someone in such a powerful position.
The Union needs to sort this out ASAP and show their fans that they're committed to a positive work environment.
. I mean, I always thought he was one of those 'no-nonsense' kinda guys, but it sounds like that facade crumbled really fast 
. Now, it's gonna be super hard to shake off the negativity around the team, especially with playoffs coming up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Tanner gets cleared of everything, but if he doesn't... well, the damage is already done 
.
This is soooo disappointing!!! 
Ernst Tanner's behavior is absolutely unacceptable 
. He has been accused of using racist & sexist language, making homophobic slurs & even touching someone inappropriately 
! How can you be so unprofessional? 
The fact that he denied all allegations doesn't make it right 
. Major League Soccer should really do more to address this kind of behavior 
️.
. The fact that he allegedly made misogynistic comments towards female refs is just 
. The Philadelphia Union's season should not be affected by this scandal 
!
. As a fan of sports, you want to see your idols behave with class and integrity, but it sounds like Tanner was more concerned with being "tough" on the field than treating his teammates and refs with respect 
. And let's be real, if Tanner is guilty (and there's enough evidence to suggest he might be), then the MLS needs to take some serious action to make sure this kind of behavior doesn't happen again 
.
. I can only imagine how the players, female referees, and staff must feel about working under him 
. All these allegations of racist and sexist language? That's not cool at all. And the fact that he allegedly touched someone inappropriately like that... yikes! 
this is so disappointing to see someone with so much power and influence being accused of such hurtful behavior... it just goes to show that we still have a long way to go in terms of creating a culture of respect and inclusivity 
let's not just focus on holding people accountable for their actions, but also on creating a culture where everyone feels safe and valued 
. it's like he had a whole different persona going on. i feel bad for the players and refs who have to deal with that kinda thing. it's not just about him though, it's about how this reflects on the league as a whole 
...anyway, i'm curious to see how this affects the union's games, especially with the playoffs coming up 
... i feel bad for the female referees who have to deal with that kind of language, it's just unacceptable. and yeah, the whole situation with the coach being abusive to reserve team players is just gross 
. tanner might be a legend in the football world but apparently he's got some serious attitude issues 
... what if his behavior affects the team's performance on the field? it's not like we haven't seen this kind of thing happen before in sports 
... anyway, i hope MLS takes care of this situation ASAP so everyone can focus on the playoffs without all this drama 
. It seems like Ernst Tanner's actions have finally caught up with him. The fact that his reputation is now under scrutiny due to these serious allegations is a sign of accountability and a step in the right direction. Fans and players alike deserve to feel safe and respected in their workplace, and it's heartbreaking to hear about the alleged incidents that created a hostile environment for those involved.
gotta ask though, how many people actually spoke out against him when the first allegations came out? seems like there were a few players who remained mum on the issue 