Hope Solo has plenty of time to think about her controversial actions down in Rio after being handed a lengthy timeout.
U.S. Soccer has suspended the Olympic goalkeeper from the U.S. Women's National Team for six months for "conduct that is counter to the organization's principles," according to a statement Wednesday.
The suspension is in response to Solo's bitter rant against Sweden's team after it eliminated the American squad from medals contention during the 2016 Rio Games earlier this month.
In the quarterfinal match, the two teams played to a 1-1 stalemate over 120 minutes, but Sweden edged the U.S. 4-3 in a shootout — and Solo did not take it well.
"I thought that we played a courageous game … I also think we played a bunch of cowards. But, you know, the best team did not win today," Solo said after the match.
Her comments did not sit well with fans, sports media — or American soccer's governing body.
"The comments by Hope Solo after the match against Sweden during the 2016 Olympics were unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we require from our National Team players," U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said in the statement. "Beyond the athletic arena, and beyond the results, the Olympics celebrate and represent the ideals of fair play and respect. We expect all of our representatives to honor those principles, with no exceptions.
