Major League Soccer club Austin FC is under investigation by the Austin, Texas police department and the FBI over allegations of youth-on-youth sexual abuse within its academy, according to the Guardian. The inquiry centers on alleged interactions between academy players.
Key facts
- The Austin police department and the FBI are investigating allegations of sexual abuse within Austin FC's academy, according to the Guardian.
- Multiple sources told the Guardian the inquiry focuses on alleged interactions between academy players.
- An Austin FC club source said multiple academy families reported the issues to the club.
- Austin police confirmed the investigation but said no other details could be shared because it involves juveniles and is ongoing.
- The FBI said it could 'neither confirm nor deny' the existence of an investigation and declined to comment.
Multiple players in the academy of Major League Soccer club Austin FC are under investigation by the Austin, Texas police department and the FBI over allegations of sexual abuse within the club’s youth system, according to the Guardian.
Multiple sources, who spoke to the Guardian on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation, said the inquiry centers on alleged interactions between academy players.
A source with knowledge of the matter told the Guardian that multiple academy families reported the allegations to Austin FC. The report indicates the club subsequently reported the allegations to local law enforcement.
The Austin police department confirmed the existence of the investigation to the Guardian on Thursday. It added that because the matter ‘involves juveniles and is ongoing,’ no other details could be shared.
An FBI spokesperson said the bureau could ‘neither confirm nor deny’ the existence of an investigation and declined to comment further, according to the Guardian.
Sources at MLS and Austin FC confirmed the existence of both the Austin police department and the FBI investigations, the Guardian reported. No further details about the scope or timeline of the inquiries have been made public.
Why it matters
Allegations of abuse within a professional club's youth academy raise serious questions about the safeguarding of minors in elite sports development systems. Because the case involves juveniles and multiple active investigations, details remain limited, but the involvement of both local police and the FBI underscores its gravity.
Frequently asked questions
Who is investigating Austin FC?
According to the Guardian, the Austin, Texas police department and the FBI are both investigating allegations of sexual abuse within Austin FC's academy.
What do the allegations involve?
Multiple sources told the Guardian the investigation is focused on alleged interactions between academy players, described as youth-on-youth sexual abuse allegations.
How did the allegations come to light?
An Austin FC club source told the Guardian that multiple academy families reported the issues to the club, which reported the allegations to local law enforcement.