Current:Home > InvestD.C. United terminates Taxi Fountas' contract for using discriminatory language-LoTradeCoin
D.C. United terminates Taxi Fountas' contract for using discriminatory language
View Date:2024-12-24 00:24:08
Major League Soccer club D.C. United has parted ways with forward Taxi Fountas for violating team policy.
D.C. United and Fountas "mutually agreed" to terminate his contract, effective immediately, the team announced on Thursday, nearly three weeks after Fountas was placed on administrative leave for allegedly using "prohibited and discriminatory language" against another player. D.C. United launched an investigation and determined the allegations were "credible."
“There is no place for racism, homophobia, misogyny or discrimination of any kind in our sport and world and D.C. United do not tolerate any acts of this nature," the team said in a statement. MLS added, "Major League Soccer and its clubs are committed to eradicating racism from the game."
D.C. UNITED fires trainer for discriminatory gesture; two players placed on leave by team
Fountas, a native of Greece, signed with D.C. United in January 2022 and scored 18 goals in 38 appearances, but his short time on the MLS club was marred by multiple incidents involving alleged racial abuse.
On July 21, Fountas was placed on administrative leave, along with teammate Nigel Robertha. According to The Athletic, Fountas and Robertha, who is Black, got into a fight after Fountas directed a racial slur at him during a training session. Fountas, 27, hasn't played for the club since.
Last year, the league investigated an allegation that Fountas used racially abusive language toward Miami defender Aimé Mabika during a match. The league said it found the allegation credible but could not find corroborating evidence, and Fountas was not disciplined.
In a separate incident, head athletic trainer Reade Whitney was fired in July after the team said he made a discriminatory hand gesture in a photo that was posted on social media.
Contributing: The Associated Press
veryGood! (11)
Related
- Democrat Janelle Bynum flips Oregon’s 5th District, will be state’s first Black member of Congress
- Donald Trump is convicted of a felony. Here’s how that affects the 2024 presidential race
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Late Night
- Chicago watchdog sounds alarm on police crowd control tactics during Democratic convention
- Brush fire erupts in Brooklyn's iconic Prospect Park amid prolonged drought
- Here’s what you should know about Donald Trump’s conviction in his hush money trial
- From 'Save the Crew' to MLS powerhouse: Columbus Crew's rise continues in Champions Cup final
- Man tied to former North Dakota lawmaker sentenced to 40 years for child sexual abuse images
- Ford agrees to pay up to $165 million penalty to US government for moving too slowly on recalls
- Can Trump still vote after being convicted?
Ranking
- Joan says 'Yes!' to 'Golden Bachelorette' finale fantasy beach proposal. Who did she pick?
- Notorious B.I.G.'s mom says she wants 'to slap the daylights out of' Sean 'Diddy' Combs
- Mel B's Ex-Husband Stephen Belafonte Files $5 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against Her
- Answers to your questions about Donald Trump’s historic hush money trial conviction
- Gossip Girl Actress Chanel Banks Reported Missing After Vanishing in California
- Biden is hosting the Kansas City Chiefs -- minus Taylor Swift -- to mark the team’s Super Bowl title
- Emotions expected to run high during sentencing of woman in case of missing mom Jennifer Dulos
- Boeing shows feds its plan to fix aircraft safety 4 months after midair blowout
Recommendation
-
Ryan Reynolds Makes Dream Come True for 9-Year-Old Fan Battling Cancer
-
Trump was found guilty in his hush money trial. Here's what to know about the verdict and the case.
-
'Star Wars' boss calls out 'male dominated' fan base's 'personal' attacks on women stars
-
Boeing firefighters ratify a contract with big raises, which they say will end a three-week lockout
-
Black and Latino families displaced from Palm Springs neighborhood reach $27M tentative settlement
-
Chicago Bears to be featured on this season of HBO's 'Hard Knocks'
-
National landmarks embody competing visions of America’s past | The Excerpt
-
Bruhat Soma carries a winning streak into the Scripps National Spelling Bee finals