ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — The former coach of the U.S. women’s national team says he didn’t shove Hope Solo at the meeting when she was benched during the 2007 World Cup.
Greg Ryan said in a statement Wednesday said the allegation made in the goalkeeper’s book is “completely false.”
Hope details the meeting with Ryan in the newly released “A Memoir of Hope.” She writes that “Greg leaned over and pushed me back down on the couch” near the end of the meeting.
Ryan is now the coach of the University of Michigan women’s soccer team. He says benching Solo for the semifinal against Brazil was “the right decision.”
The U.S. lost the game 4-0 and finished third at the World Cup. Ryan was dismissed later that year.
