Utah Royals head coach Craig Harrington and assistant Louis Lancaster have been placed on leaves of absence from team activities, the club announced Sunday.
Amy LePeilbet has been named interim head coach, the team said in a statement.
Harrington allegedly made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature to staff, sources told The Athletic’s Meg Linehan.
Owner Dell Loy Hansen is currently in the process of selling his soccer holdings, which includes the Royals, after his history of racist and inappropriate behavior was reported by The Athletic last month.
The club declined to comment. Harrington and Lancaster also declined comment through the club.
How did we get here?
Meg Linehan, staff writer: The news of Harrington and Lancaster’s leaves of absence was a shock, revealed by the broadcast team after the club’s first game of the Fall Series had started. Within moments, sources indicated that there were alleged multiple instances of inappropriate comments of a sexual nature with staff around the club involving Harrington. Lancaster’s leave of absence is tied to a separate incident, according to sources. The NWSL has been working through an investigation into the culture across the entire Utah organization, though the scope has widened considerably since it was opened on Aug….
