The chief executive of Arizona’s youth soccer association has distanced his organization from comments he made at U.S. Soccer’s annual general meeting supporting a ban on national team athletes kneeling during the anthem.
However, when specifically asked, he did not provide any view on or condemnation of other speakers on the topic, including one who claimed there is “relatively zero data to substantiate” the issue of police brutality.
In an emailed statement, the Arizona Soccer’s Association’s (ASA) Rick Kelsey said that the comments he made during the AGM on Saturday were his own personal views, although he had discussed his stance with ASA’s elected president Randy Karg beforehand.
Kelsey was introduced ahead of his remarks as representing the state association by the presiding officer. In his speech, the CEO indicated his continued support for a policy requiring national team athletes to stand during the playing of anthems. This was due to his concern “not about what we do […but] about what we’re letting others do.”
“My concern would be what we do when we’re playing an opponent and the opponent takes a knee during the playing of our national anthem, because we’ve now let them know that that’s ok,” Kelsey told the meeting. “My concern would be also the athlete who may decide to take a knee when we’re playing in a visiting team’s stadium, the playing of their national anthem, because we’ve let them know it’s ok.
“I think when we’re representing the country, we should be able to stand with respect.”
The policy, introduced in 2017, stated that “all persons representing a Federation national team shall stand respectfully during the playing of national anthems at any event in which the Federation is represented.”
It was initially repealed by U.S. Soccer’s board of directors in June 2020. Despite vocal opposition, that decision was affirmed at the AGM, with 71.34% of the weighted vote in favor.
Responding to questions over which way ASA’s representatives voted, Kelsey clarified that three of the organization’s four votes were cast by its elected president, and that “how he voted is not immediately known.” The fourth vote was cast by Kelsey.
Three other speakers at the AGM opposed the repeal of the policy: James Bollinger, the president of the Eastern Pennsylvania (adult) Soccer Association; Dave Guthrie, the executive director of Indiana Soccer; and Seth Jahn, a former Paralympian who sat on the Athletes’ Council.
Bollinger described the repeal of the policy as “abrasive, divisive and insulting” while also accusing U.S. Soccer’s directors of having “largely rolled over” to athletes.
Beginning a six-minute speech, Jahn railed against “quote-unquote progressive culture where everything offends everybody.” He proceeded to disparage concerns surrounding police brutality.
“It’s a narrative with relatively zero data to substantiate,” Jahn said. “The facts just don’t have time for the feelings.”
After claiming to have faced racism himself “just for being too light skinned,” Jahn bemoaned “hearing how our country was founded on the backs of slaves, even though approximately only 8% of the entire population even owned slaves.” He further claimed that the United States was the only country to fight to abolish slavey – a historically inaccurate claim.
The Athletes’ Council’s membership later voted to expel Jahn, finding that his comments breached U.S. Soccer’s Prohibited Conduct Policy section relating to harassment.
Yet when asked for reaction to the comments earlier this week, Kelsey did not address either of these speakers. He instead focused on his own organization’s stance on diversity.
“ASA has proven its commitment to DE&I (diversity, equality and inclusion) on and off the field,” he wrote in an emailed statement. “ASA has partnered with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and launched the ‘No Place for Hate’ program, the first non-school organization in the country to do this, as well as hosted the ADL Anti-Bias training for the ASA Staff, [Board of Directors], and club leaders. ASA’s commitment is also represented in the diversity in which the staff represents.
“ASA condemns all forms of racism, hate, prejudice, bullying, and any form of behavior that is contradictory to developing and delivering a positive soccer experience for all involved.”
Replying to a follow-up question asking if he condemned the other speakers, Kelsey said that he “[didn’t] have enough context to comment” because he was not privy to discussions of the Athletes’ Council, the body that found Jahn had violated U.S. Soccer policy.
Kelsey was announced as ASA’s chief executive officer in June 2018, and was serving as the organization’s president at the time of his appointment. He previously worked as an executive for the USL W-League side Arizona Heatwave.
The Arizona Soccer Association is the state’s affiliate to U.S. Youth Soccer, and operates State Cup and Presidents Cup competitions within Arizona.