The case embarrasses the American Federation (US Soccer), which has decided to put Berhalter temporarily in withdrawal, and has entrusted his deputy Anthony Hudson with the task of directing the training camp scheduled for January, before friendly matches against Serbia on 25 and Colombia on the 28th.

The case originated in the 2022 World Cup. At the start of the tournament, Berhalter announced to Reyna, 20, that he would not start at the World Cup.

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder apparently took this announcement very badly.

On December 11, a week after the elimination of the United States in the round of 16 by the Netherlands (3-1), the coach publicly said that he had threatened a player to send him home, because of his inappropriate behaviour, without naming him.

But Reyna then posted a message on social media to acknowledge that he was that player.

"Shameful Moment"

"After learning that I would only have a limited role (during the World Cup, editor's note), I let my emotions take over and they affected my training performance and my behavior for a few days", said confessed on Instagram Reyna, whose World Cup came down to seven minutes of play in the group stage and an entry to the break in the round of 16.

American striker Giovanni Reyna after the match against the Netherlands, at the World Cup, on December 3, 2022 in Doha © Jewel SAMAD / AFP / Archives

On Wednesday, the parents of Giovanni, Danielle and Claudio, former captain of "Team USA" and current sports director of the Austin club, admitted to having reported to the Federation an episode more than 30 years old, involving Berhalter.

The coach for his part denounced blackmail, while admitting to having kicked his girlfriend Rosalind when he was 18, during an argument in 1991. Since then, the couple have married, have raised four children and still live together.

Berhalter claimed to have consulted a psychologist after the incident, and to have never been violent again afterwards.

"It was a shameful moment, which I still regret today, there is no excuse for what I did that night," he said.

Berhalter and Reyna played together in the youth categories, then on the national team, and their wives were roommates when they were students at the University of North Carolina.

"Dragged in the Mud"

After Berhalter's confession, Danielle Reyna returned to the charge, assuring that the coach's version "considerably minimized" the facts reported.

Rosalind, she said, "was my roommate, my teammate and my best friend, and I supported her through the trauma that followed. It took me a long time to forgive and accept Gregg afterwards."

Gregg Berhalter (N.3 standing, 3rd from left) and Claudio Reyna (N.10 crouching, 1st from left) before a United States match against Mexico at the 2002 World Cup, the June 17, 2002 in Jeonju © Pascal GUYOT / AFP/Archives

She explained that she did not accept that Berhalter did not grant her son Giovanni the forgiveness that she herself had granted him at the time: "I worked hard to forgive him. I would have hoped may he forgive Gio the same way," she said, regretting that her son was "dragged through the mud, while Gregg asked for and was granted forgiveness for doing something much more serious in the same age".

"I felt personally betrayed by the actions of someone my family has considered a friend for decades," she added.

This settling of scores, four years from the World Cup, now leaves open two sporting questions: Will Berhalter be the coach of the cycle that is opening?

And if so, what is the future in the selection of Gio Reyna, who is one of the current great talents of the United States?

© 2023 AFP