U.S. women's national team striker Abby Wambach has spoken out about the domestic violence charge facing teammate Hope Solo, and reaffirmed the need for professional athletes to be role models.
Solo was arrested and subsequently charged with two counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault in June after allegedly striking her sister and nephew in an argument. She pleaded not guilty, and Wambach voiced her concern with how the issue was affecting the team, and its role in setting an example.
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"It's hard because we're in a tricky position because we're teammates with Hope and we also are role models so we know how massive and we know how big of an issue this is," Wambach told USA Today this week. "That's not lost on us by any means. But I think on so many different levels, our hands are tied.
"U.S. Soccer made the decisions that they made and we're here to play soccer, we're here to qualify, we know that it wasn't so easy the last time around, and so we are in a tough position."
Wambach also denied that there was a double standard with Solo's situation, in which she was allowed to continue playing and was lauded for breaking the all-time shutouts record, and that of Ray Rice, the former Ravens running back who was suspended indefinitely by the NFL.
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"The fact that this has taken off with the NFL, I understand it, because it is a huge, huge topic," Wambach told USA Today's Christine Brennan. "We want to be good role models, and that's something that's super important to everybody on the team.
"I think this is a different situation, whether people want to believe that or not. It's hard for us because we want to back her but then there's this whole other dimension to it. I think that the truth will come out in her case. Nobody was there, so everybody can construe: 'Oh, well then, whatever happened with that Ray Rice situation is obviously what's gone on in this Hope case,' and that's just not the case. I think that the truth will come out and people will understand."
The U.S. is set to meet Mexico in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women's Championship on Friday at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.