Hope Solo: Former US goalie delays Hall of Fame intro to tackle ‘alcohol challenge’ | Football news

Former USA player Hope Solo, considered by many to be one of women’s football’s all-time greatest goalkeepers, has requested that her Hall of Fame ceremony be adjourned until next year. She was arrested earlier this month.

Solo’s ceremony was slated to take place in May but she released a statement on Twitter that she “respectfully requested the postponement” as “her energy and focus is completely directed to my health, healing, and taking care of my family.”

Solo was arrested after being found unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle in a Walmart parking lot in North Carolina. Police said her two-year-old twin children were in the car and the engine was running.

Solo was charged with impaired driving, resisting arrest and misdemeanor abuse and will appear in court in June. Solo said she has volunteered to participate in a patient alcohol treatment program.

The 40-year-old wrote: “I have contacted the Hall of Fame and respectfully request to postpone my Hall of Fame presentation until 2023.

“I will be voluntarily joining an on-site alcohol addiction treatment program to address my alcohol challenges. At this point, my energy and focus is completely directed towards health, healing and taking care of my family.

“I want to thank the Hall of Fame for their support and for understanding my decision.”

A statement from the Hall of Fame read: “Legendary USWNT goalkeeper and powerhouse in charge of the National Soccer Hall of Fame 2022, Hope Solo has decided to postpone the competition until 2023.

“NSHOF fully supports her decision and looks forward to honoring her and her historic achievements at next year’s showcase.”

Solo has made more than 200 caps for the United States women’s team and helped them win Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012, as well as the World Cup in 2015.

However, the goalkeeper’s international career ended a year later when she was dropped from the team after the quarter-final against Sweden at the 2016 Rio Olympics, after which she called the Swede a “coward”. shy” for what she considers their defensive tactic.

Solo was also suspended in 2015 after she and her husband, former NFL executive Jerramy Stevens, were dragged into a truck owned by US Soccer. Stevens was charged with drunk driving.

Additionally, Solo was benched in 2007 after questioning the pick options of Greg Ryan, who was the USWNT manager at the time.