schemer
Ugly gossip between the family of BVB professional Reyna and the US national coach
One does not know exactly what Giovanni Reyna thinks of his parents’ intervention
© Jewel Samad / AFP
The future of US national team coach Gregg Berhalter is unclear after an incident of domestic violence against his wife 31 years ago became known. Behind the process is a tangible intrigue.
An ugly intrigue has got the US Soccer Association in trouble and left the men’s national team without a coach. National coach Gregg Berhalter, his wife Rosalind, international Giovanni Reyna and his parents Claudio and Danielle Reyna are involved in the drama, which has traits of a soap opera.
The full extent of the story became known after Berhalter, together with his wife Rosalind, on Tuesday afternoon a detailed statement on Twitter had published in which he made serious allegations against a person. They contacted the US association because they had information about Berhalter that should lead to his dismissal.
Gregg Berhalter was 18 at the time
Berhalter provided the relevant information at the same time. He reports in detail about an incident from 1991 when he kicked his future wife in the legs during a heated argument in front of a student bar (“It became physical and I kicked her in the legs.”). “No excuse” for his behavior back then, writes Berhalter. Both he and his partner informed their friends and parents about the incident, which was not reported. Berhalter, who was 18 at the time, then sought professional help. Nothing like that ever happened to him again. Seven months later, Rosalind contacted him and they got back together after a discussion. They have been married for 25 years.
Minutes later, the US association also released a vague statement saying that a law firm was investigating the allegations against Berhalter. The association refrained from specifically naming the allegations. At the same time, he said that independently of this, the investigation had revealed that there had been inappropriate behavior towards members of the association by some people outside.
An astonished public learned on Wednesday why the story got rolling at all. The person who informed the US federation’s sporting director about the long-ago incident was Danielle Reyna, mother of US international and BVB professional Giovanni “Gio” Reyna. Reyna’s father Claudio (Bayer Leverkusen, VfL Wolfsburg) was also involved, as both now admitted.
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Everyone involved has known each other for a long time
The background: Gio Reyna was informed by Berhalter before the World Cup that he would not get very many playing times, even though he is one of the most talented internationals in the country. Reyna apparently reacted inappropriately and almost got kicked out of the squad. Berhalter later told a press conference about a problematic professional, but without naming a name. Nevertheless, it quickly became clear that it was Gio Renya. The player himself released a statement a day later, in which he admitted he hadn’t behaved well. At the same time, he was disappointed that he would hardly get any operational time.
For Danielle Reyna, Berhalter’s statements at the press conference were too much. She was “out of her mind and devastated,” she told ESPN. That’s why she informed the US sports director on the same day about Berhalter’s outbreak of violence 31 years ago. She didn’t demand his release, she just wanted to protect her son. Husband Claudio Reyna admitted to having complained several times to officials at the federation during the World Cup that his son was not playing.
In order to understand the full scope of the conflict, you have to know that everyone involved knows each other well. Gio’s father Claudio was one of the best footballers America has ever had. He and Berhalter have known each other since they were kids, they played soccer together on the high school team and later at the 2002 and 2006 World Championships. So did Danielle Reyna and Rosalind Berhalter, who lived together and on the North Carolina varsity team played together.
Reyna: Berhalter downplayed the incident
That’s why the Reynas are so well informed about the incident from 30 years ago. Danielle Reyna emphasized on Wednesday: “Without going into detail, yesterday’s statements play down (Berhalters on the outbreak of violence, editor’s note) significantly the abuse on the night in question. Rosalind Berhalter was my roommate, teammate and best friend and I supported her through the trauma that followed.”
It took her a long time to forgive Berhalter, “and eventually made both of them and their children an important part of my family life,” Reyna said. She would have wished and expected Berhalter to show the same mercy to Gio.
Sources: DPA, “The New York Times”, “ESPN”, “Mirror”