UWS launches investigation into FC Austin Elite, allegations against Danny Woodfill

On Saturday afternoon, United Women's Soccer (UWS) announced that it had launched an investigation into FC Austin Elite and the club's general manager, Danny Woodfill. 

The investigation follows a statement from the team's players on Friday night published on social media. The players also filed an official complaint with the league. 

In an official statement to the public, UWS said that it was "deeply concerned" about allegations against Woodfill and the Texas club. The league also stated it was "grateful" for the players' bravery in coming forward.

A spokesperson from the UWS told The Striker Texas the players of FC Austin Elite contacted the league for the first time on Friday, a few hours before the team was set to play San Antonio Athenians in a league match. 

The statement from the Elite players read: 

"Players from FC Austin Elite do not condone behavior from General Manager Danny Woodfill and his decision to wrongfully fire head coach Christiane Lessa. Lessa has led the team to 1st place in the UWS Southwest Division league and is currently ranked 5th nationally.

The players will support the work that is necessary to bring an end to the disrespect the players and coaching staff have endured which includes workplace misconduct, verbal promises to players that have been left unfulfilled, and abuse within FC Austin Elite and women's soccer as a whole.

A majority of the FC Austin Elite players will not partake in tonight's game or the remainder of the season to take a stand against Woodfill's corruptive actions. We have made a promise to ourselves and future generations to transform the standard for women's soccer not through just words but actions. Any team that takes the field tonight in FC Austin Elite uniforms will be comprised of replacement players and not the women who have represented the team from day one.

We ask the league to action and preventative measures to protect current/future players and coaching staff from workplace discrimination, harassment, abuse, and bullying."

Former head coach Christiane Lessa was removed from her role by Woodfill on Thursday, June 30. The players believe there to be no cause for her dismissal. Although Lessa's removal is what sparked the complaint, The Striker Texas understands that the details of the report go far beyond that one dispute.

What happens once a team makes a complaint?

UWS protocol says that once the league is contacted by an individual or group about a breach of SafeSport compliance, the league then responds by sending over an internal grievance complaint form.

That form allows the group to present the league with all the necessary details to explain the breach of SafeSport rules. Then the league will investigate the case to see if any league procedures have been violated

The UWS also revealed to The Striker Texas that it had held an emergency meeting of the league's Executive Committee on Saturday. That meeting will determine the appropriate course of action which needs to be followed in accordance with the UWS' internal process.

At the conclusion of the UWS' investigation, the league will determine what sanctions if any need to be levied against the Texas club. No exact timeline was given about how long that investigation could last. 

Update: Sunday, July 3, 1 p.m.: On Sunday, FC Austin Elite released a statement announcing that Danny Woodfill had voluntarily stepped down as the team's general manager. The club said that it is "cooperating fully" with the UWS on the investigation into the Elite player's allegations against Woodfill and the team. 

Although the statement infers that Elite will complete its UWS season, the player's statement from Saturday implied that they would no longer play for the Austin club. 

The Striker Texas has reached out to Woodfill for comment.

This is a developing story.