Greg Berhalter: Giovanni Reyna’s mother reported to the American football coach

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The United States lost to the Netherlands in the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

US midfielder Giovanni Reyna’s mother says she reported coach Greg Berhalter beat his wife when they were teenagers.

Danielle Reyna, wife of former US captain Claudio, said she reported the incident to US Soccer on December 11.

She said it was “unfair” that “people were shattering” her 20-year-old son when Berhalter had done something “much worse” at the same age.

Borussia Dortmund player Reina did not start a match for the United States during the Qatar World Cup.

During a speech at the Leadership Summit in early December, Berhalter said an unnamed player was nearly sent home from Qatar for “failing to meet expectations on and off the field”.

Berhalter thought his comments would be kept confidential but after they were erroneously allowed to be published, Rena posted on Instagram that the coach had told him his role in the tournament would be “very limited” and that he had let them influence his training and behaviour.

He added that he had apologized to his teammates and Berhalter.

Berhalter said he was approached during the World Cup by someone saying they were going to “bring him down”.

In a statement Wednesday, Danielle Reyna, who won six caps with the US women’s national team and was a roommate of Berhalter’s now-wife Rosalind, said she “made no threats” when she reported the incident from 1991 to NFL athletic director Ernie. Stewart.

She said she called Stewart because she “felt so angry and devastated that Gio was put in such a terrible situation” and felt “deeply personal betrayed” by a family member “who she considered a friend for decades”.

She added, “I told Ernie I thought it was particularly unfair that Gio, who had apologized for acting inappropriately about his game time, was still being dragged through the mud when Greg asked for and received forgiveness for doing something much worse at the same age.”

It also alleged that Berhalter’s statement, co-signed by Rosalind, “significantly reduced the abuse on the night in question”.

She added: “Rosalind Berhalter was my roommate, teammate and best friend and I supported her through the trauma that followed.

“It took a long time for me to forgive and accept Greg after that, but I worked hard to give him grace and eventually made both of them and their children a huge part of my family’s life.

“I wanted and expected him to give the same grace to Jiu. This is why the current situation is so painful and difficult.”

In Berhalter’s statement, he said he kicked Rosalind in the legs during a “heated argument” after they went out drinking.

He said Rosalind “wanted nothing to do” with him immediately after the accident but they met up seven months later to rebuild their relationship.

They’ve been together ever since and celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary over New Year’s weekend.

Danielle Renna said she hoped reporting the incident to Stewart would help stop the attacks on her son.

She said: “At the time I contacted Ernie, a lot of people were attacking Gio on social media over Greg’s comments, and I didn’t know when or if this was going to stop.

“I just wanted Ernie to help make sure there were no more unprovoked attacks on my son.

“I thought our conversation would be kept confidential, and it never occurred to me at the time that anything I said could lead to an investigation.”

She added that she now understands that Stewart “has an obligation to investigate” but that she “has not asked that Greg be fired”, “has not made any threats” and “does not know anything about any blackmail attempts”.

In a later statement, Claudio Reyna, who played with Berhalter on youth and high school teams as well as the US National Team, said he supports his wife and her statement.

He added, “I am also troubled by Greg’s comments about Geo after the US exit from the World Cup, and I also implored Ernie Stewart on December 11 to block any further comments.

“While in Qatar, I shared my frustrations about my son’s World Cup experience with a number of close friends, including Ernie and Brian McBride. However, I have never, at any time, ever threatened anyone, and never will.”

Berhalter’s contract expired on December 31 and his job is under evaluation.

The NFL said assistant coach Anthony Hudson will take charge of training camp in January.

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