Soccer player Hope Solo in trouble again

The United States Women’s National Soccer Team (U.S. WNT) faced a heartbreaking loss at the Summer Olympics on Aug. 25, 2016 to their rival, Sweden, who beat the U.S. team in an intense shootout after overtime in a 1-1 match. Feeling the bitterness of the loss, U.S. goalkeeper, Hope Solo, often referred to as one of the best goalkeepers of her generation, posted a response to the game that would alter her career for the worst.

Solo attacked the Swedish team’s plays and tactics on Twitter, saying her opponents were “a bunch of cowards” and the “best team” had not won. The comments went viral on social media in a matter of minutes, and the goalkeeper attempted to defend her poor sportsmanship as a passionate response to the loss. “Losing sucks,” Solo posted on Twitter. “I’m really bad at it.”

In response, the U.S. WNT suspended Solo and stated that, “Hope made a poor decision that has resulted in a negative impact on U.S. Soccer and her teammates. We feel at this time it is best for her to step away from the team.” In addition to her six month suspension the federation terminated Solo’s contract, removing the goalkeeper from the U.S. roster.

This is not Solo’s first incident that has tested the patience of the U.S. Soccer Federation. In past years, the goalie has picked fights with players, clashed with coaches, and criticized former players on social media. In 2014, she was arrested for domestic assault charges that were later dropped before being reinstated this summer.

“In a sense it’s the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Soccerwire.com editor Charles Boehm told CBS news on Jan. 22, 2015. “I think there’s real concern that she just can’t stay out of trouble.” Boehm added, “In this situation she was involved in an incident while she’s on U.S national team duty, so I think she’s crossed a line in the eyes of U.S Soccer that she hadn’t crossed before.”