The Kansas City Current has fired head of medical staff Carlos Jimenez for violating the NWSL's non-fraternization policy.
The news was first reported by The Athletic on Wednesday. The newspaper reported that Jimenez violated policy by having a relationship with an unidentified current player. The team confirmed Jimenez's dismissal to USA TODAY Sports.
“When we learned of his actions in violation of club and league policy, he was immediately terminated. We continue to ensure that our policies and practices ensure a safe place for our players and staff.” We will do our best,” the team said in a statement.
The league's 2022 non-fraternization policy applies to all NWSL players, coaches, owners, managers, trainers, and employees or other related personnel of the NWSL and its affiliated clubs or teams. This is in place to “minimize the risk of actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest and to promote impartiality and professionalism”.
Under the policy, Jimenez would be considered a “supervisor.” This is because a supervisor is someone who “responsibly directs (staff), including performance and medical decisions, and who is responsible for addressing concerns and influencing such actions for the benefit of the NWSL and the organization.” This is because a person is defined as a person who can exert power. team. “
“NWSL Supervisors may not engage in romantic relationships, even consensual, with employees (including NWSL players or trialists) over whom they currently have direct or indirect supervisory authority or managerial influence. “You may not enter into, develop, continue, or pursue sexual relationships or encounters,'' the policy reads.
The no-fraternization policy is one of several enacted by the NWSL in response to the 2022 firing of former North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley, who was accused of sexually harassing and coercing players over a 10-year period. That was one of the policies.
A report released by former U.S. Attorney General Sally Q. Yates found the league and U.S. Soccer failed to take action against misconduct, and an NWSL-commissioned investigation found “widespread misconduct” against players. There was found. As a result, the league instituted a defraternization policy ahead of the 2023 season, similar to other workplace discrimination, harassment and bullying policies.
Jimenez was hired by KC Current in December 2023 after spending last season with the Washington Spirit as a physical therapist, and also served as a physical therapist for U.S. Soccer from December 2019 to December 2021. He will be the second in the league to do so. He was fired this season because he violated the no-fraternization policy. The Houston Dash fired goalie coach Matt Lampson in March following an NWSL investigation, and he was suspended by the league through the 2024 season.
KC Current sits atop the NWSL with a record of 4-0-1.
