Goalkeeper Hope Solo will not play for the United States for six months after being banned for calling Olympic rivals Sweden “a bunch of cowards”.
The 35-year-old World Cup winner made the remarks after her side lost 5-4 on penalties to the Swedes in the quarter-finals of Rio 2016.
US Soccer president Sunil Gulati said Solo’s comments were “unacceptable”. Solo, who will not be eligible for the national side until February, said she was “saddened” by the decision.
Writing on her Facebook page, the Seattle Reign star said: “I could not be the player I am without being the person I am, even when I haven’t made the best choices or said the right things.”
