American national team goalkeeper Hope Solo’s new book “SOLO: A Memoir Of Hope” contains the explosive allegation that ex-women’s national team coach Greg Ryan shoved her during a contentious meeting at the 2007 Women’s World Cup.
Solo was benched by Ryan for her outburst after she was benched in favor of Brianna Scurry before the semifinals against Brazil – a game the USA went on to lose 4-0.
After the game, a clearly unhappy Solo told a live television audience that “It was the wrong decision and I think anyone who knows anything about the game of soccer knows that.”
Ryan, now the coach of the university of Michigan women’s soccer team, denied Tuesday that he had ever laid hands on Solo.
"This allegation is completely false," Ryan said in a prepared statement released to the media. “I did not shove or push Hope as I've been accused in her book. I would have been terminated immediately by U.S. Soccer had this allegation been true. I have openly discussed the contents of the meeting and this is the first time that this accusation has been brought to light.”
Solo subsequently went on to collect gold medals in Beijing and at this year’s London Games.
