Despite facing charges of domestic violence stemming from an incident in which she allegedly brutally beat her sister-in-law and nephew, U.S. women's national team and Seattle Reign goalkeeper Hope Solo continues to play on.
And if U.S. Soccer has anything to say about it, that won't be changing anytime soon.
U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said in a statement, via Fox Sports, that Solo will be allowed to continue playing until the matter is resolved in the courts.
''U.S. Soccer takes the issue of domestic violence very seriously. From the beginning, we considered the information available and have taken a deliberate and thoughtful approach regarding Hope Solo's status with the national team. Based on that information, U.S. Soccer stands by our decision to allow her to participate with the team as the legal process unfolds. If new information becomes available we will carefully consider it,'' Gulati said.
Solo, who recently earned her 72nd career shutout during an exhibition match against Mexico, has broken the record for most career shutouts, an achievement previously held by Briana Scurry.
Solo has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault in Washington State. She is alleged to have engaged in a fist fight with her 17-year-old nephew before punching her sister-in-law in the head when she tried to break up the tussle.
This is a very important year for women's soccer with the 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship taking place in October, and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup looming.
You'd be hard-pressed to make the case that Solo's talent level and overall importance to the U.S.'s chances isn't playing a role in this decision.
U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Scott Blackmun said of the charges, "The allegations involving Ms. Solo are disturbing and are inconsistent with our expectations of Olympians. We have had discussions with U.S. Soccer and fully expect them to take action if it is determined that the allegations are true.''
Solo and her attorney maintain her innocence and claim, instead, that she was the victim, not the aggressor in the situation.
U.S. Soccer is walking a very fine line with this decision, especially in light of the recent bad publicity the NFL is currently experiencing over its own domestic violence issues.
