USA manager Gregg Berhalter reveals he was the subject of a blackmail plot at the World Cup

US head coach Gregg Berhalter has claimed he was blackmailed during the Qatar 2022 World Cup in a shocking revelation on Tuesday.

The coach, whose contract officially ended at the end of last month after the conclusion of the tournament, has moved to clarify some personal data “that a third party has used against my family and against me.”

In a lengthy statement posted on his Twitter profile, Berhalter spoke about a 1991 violent incident involving his wife Rosalind and admitted to “kicking her in the legs” after an argument.

US head coach Gregg Berhalter claimed he was blackmailed during the World Cup in Qatar

Berhalter admitted to “kicking his wife Rosalind in the legs” after an argument in 1991

“While we obviously would have wanted to go further in the World Cup, I am very proud and grateful for all of our players, our staff, everyone at US Soccer, and all of the USMNT fans around the world who supported us,” the post read. .

‘Our performance was based on hard work and the extraordinary energy and commitment of those on and off the field during the years of preparation. There are so many positive examples of our squad coming together, making so many different kinds of sacrifices, all in pursuit of our group’s shared vision.

“I look forward to continuing my discussions with US Soccer about the future, but now is the time to publicly share certain personal information that a third party has used against me and my family.”

Berhalter’s US Soccer contract officially expired at the end of last month after the World Cup.

‘During the World Cup, a person contacted US Soccer and said they had information about me that would ‘bring me down’, an apparent effort to leverage something very personal from long ago to bring about the end of my relationship with US. Soccer. This is a difficult step to take, but my wife Rosalind and I want to share the truth clearly and directly. This is a story that belongs to us, but we hope there are lessons from our relationship that may be of value to others.

‘In the fall of 1991, I met my soul mate. I had just turned 18 and was a freshman in college when I first met Rosalind. There was a familiar feeling when we talked. Rosalind was and is an amazing person, determined, empathetic, funny, and we connected immediately.

‘It felt like we’d known each other for years. We had been dating for four months when an incident occurred between us that would shape the future of our relationship. One night, while drinking at a local bar, Rosalind and I got into a heated argument that continued outside. He got physical and I kicked him in the legs.

Berhalter issued a statement on his Twitter profile Tuesday afternoon to clarify certain “personal information that a third party has used against me and my family.”

‘There are no excuses for my actions that night; It was an embarrassing moment and one I regret to this day. At that point, I immediately apologized to Rosalind, but understandably, she wanted nothing to do with me. I told my parents, family, and friends about what happened because she wanted to take full responsibility for my behavior. Rosalind also informed her parents, relatives and friends of hers. Although the authorities were never involved in this matter, I voluntarily sought advice to help me learn, grow and improve, one of the most valuable decisions I have ever made. To this day, that kind of behavior has never been repeated.

“I was afraid of losing my soul mate and then out of the blue seven months later I got a call from Rosalind asking if we could talk in person. We got together and discussed how we had grown and decided to rebuild our relationship.

Rosalind shared that her family supported this decision and as we worked through what had happened, we both realized that our love, trust and respect for each other was stronger than the incident that occurred months before.

‘Since then Rosalind and I have lived together in five different countries, three different states and have met and remain friends with many wonderful people from all over the world. All of these people have witnessed the strong relationship we have and the loving family we have built together.

“The lessons learned from that night more than three decades ago became the foundation of a loving, devoted and supportive relationship, which we honored and celebrated with our 25th wedding anniversary this past weekend.

“I share this story after 31 years because it is important to understand that it was an event that shaped me, but it does not define me. It was a one-time, isolated event over three decades ago and a terrible decision made at the wrong time by an 18-year-old. Rosalind and I have been on an incredible journey together.

‘We have raised four wonderful children, who are aware of what happened.

We are so proud of our marriage, our relationship, the family we have built, and the people we have become.

‘As a team, we emphasize responsibility, honesty and growth. Those are not just principles that we instill within the team; It’s how I live my life. The foundation of any good team is using the past as an opportunity to learn and improve.

‘People can make mistakes and learn from them; people can also be forgiven for their mistakes. Fortunately, Rosalind forgave me. The intent of this statement is to provide transparency and reinforce that a single bad decision made by a teen does not necessarily define him or her for the rest of his or her life. We will not hide from this. We didn’t then, and we won’t now.

This is our story. We have fully cooperated with US Soccer’s investigation into this matter, and while we would prefer not to discuss something so personal from so long ago in such a public forum, we are taking this opportunity to share what has shaped us and how much we have grown and learned. of this for the past 31 years. Thank you.

Rosalind and Gregg Berhalter.

A statement from US Soccer on Tuesday afternoon read: “Upon learning of the indictment against US Men’s National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter on December 11, 2022, US Soccer immediately hired Alston. & Bird LLP to conduct an independent investigation into the matter.” The investigation is led by Jenny Kramer, BJay Pak and Chris Marquardt of Alston & Bird LLP and is ongoing.

“Through this process, US Soccer has become aware of possible inappropriate behavior toward various members of our staff by individuals outside of our organization. We take such behavior seriously and have expanded our investigation to include those allegations.

‘We appreciate that Gregg and Rosalind have come forward to speak openly about this incident. In keeping with our commitment to transparency, we will share the results of the investigation publicly when it is complete. US Soccer condemns violence of any kind and takes such allegations very seriously.

‘Last month, US Soccer released a full technical review of our Men’s National Team Program. With the review and investigation underway, US Soccer will announce who will lead the January Men’s National Team camp in the coming days. We look forward to building on the performance in Qatar and preparing for the journey to 2026.