
Investigation finds Bay FC coach did not violate the NWSL's harassment and bullying policy
The investigation stemmed from a report in the San Francisco Chronicle in March that described a 'toxic' work environment. At least two formal complaints had been made about the team, the newspaper reported.
Montoya was investigated for alleged violations of the Policy to Prevent and Eliminate Workplace Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying. The findings were announced Tuesday.
All parties cooperated with the investigation, which was conducted by New York-based law firm Debevoise & Plimpton.
'The league conducted a comprehensive review and determined Bay FC head coach Albertin Montoya was not in violation of any league rules,' Bay FC said in a statement in response to the league's announcement. 'We are grateful the league has identified opportunities for additional communication improvements which we are, and have been, implementing. We strive to be a player-centric club and will continue to work hard to make sure we have a supportive environment for our players. We believe in the culture we are building at Bay FC and will continue to support our players' growth on and off the pitch.'
Among the findings were recommendations to 'facilitate more effective communication and enhance support structures, which the NWSL, Bay FC and coach Montoya have taken, and are continuing to take, to address such concerns,' the league said.
The NWSL was rocked by an abuse and misconduct scandal in 2021. Five coaches resigned or were fired in the aftermath. In response, the NWSL implemented changes to protect players, including enhanced vetting of club employees and an anonymous tip line for players.
The NWSL Players Association also negotiated safeguards in its collective-bargaining agreement with the league.
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Atletico beats York United 4-3 to advance to Canadian Championship semifinals
TORONTO – Samuel Salter and Aboubacar Sissoko scored late in the second half to give the visiting Atletico side a 4-3 victory over York United on Tuesday, winning the two-game aggregate score 6-4 in Canadian Championship quarterfinal action at York Lions Stadium. With the victory, the Ottawa-based squad advances to the semifinals, where they'll face the winner of a quarterfinal showdown between CF Montreal (MLS) and Forge FC of Hamilton (CPL). Game 2 of that series is Wednesday night at Saputo Stadium in Montreal. Forge beat Montreal 1-0 in the series opener on May 20. Julian Altobelli gave York a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute on Tuesday, but David Rodriguez tied the match seven minutes later. Salter scored his first goal of the game at the 22-minute mark to give Aletico a 2-1 lead. Four minutes later Elijah Adekugbe was shown a red card, forcing York to play the remainder of the match with 10 men. Despite being a man down, Altobelli tied the game 2-2 with his second goal in the 37th minute. Massimo Ferrin then gave the hosts a 3-2 lead with a goal in the 53rd minute. But Salter, in the 84th minute, and Sissoko two minutes into injury time, lifted Atletico to the 4-3 victory. Atletico outshot York United 14-11 (8-7 on target), had possession 69 per cent of the time, had 11 fouls compared to York's 10, and had more corners (7-1). Atletico won the first leg 2-1 on June 11. Later tonight, Vancouver FC visits Cavalry FC in Calgary. The teams played to a 1-1 draw in their quarterfinal series opener on May 21 in Langley, B.C. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 8, 2025.


Canada Standard
an hour ago
- Canada Standard
Calls to designate the Bishnoi gang a terrorist group shine a spotlight on Canada's security laws
British Columbia Premier David Eby recently called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to designate the India-based Bishnoi gang a terrorist organization. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown echoed the request days later. The RCMP has also alleged the gang may be targeting pro-Khalistan activists in Canada. These claims follow a series of high-profile incidents in India linked to the Bishnoi network, including the murder of a Punjabi rapper in New Delhi, threats against a Bollywood actor and the killing of a Mumbai politician in late 2024. Eby's request raises broader legal questions. What does it mean to label a group a terrorist organization in Canada and what happens once that label is applied? Under Section 83.05 of the Criminal Code, the federal government can designate an entity a terrorist organization if there are "reasonable grounds to believe" it has engaged in, supported or facilitated terrorist activity. The term "entity" is defined broadly, covering individuals, groups, partnerships and unincorporated associations. The process begins with intelligence and law enforcement reports submitted to the public safety minister, who may then recommend listing the group to cabinet if it's believed the legal threshold is met. If cabinet agrees, the group is officially designated a terrorist organization. A designation carries serious consequences: assets can be frozen and financial dealings become criminalized. Banks and other institutions are protected from liability if they refuse to engage with the group. Essentially, the designation cuts the group off from economic and civic life, often without prior notice or public hearing. As of July 2025, Canada has listed 86 entities, from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to far-right and nationalist organizations. In February, the government added seven violent criminal groups from Latin America, including the Sinaloa cartel and La Mara Salvatrucha, known as the MS-13. This marked a turning point: for the first time, Canada extended terrorism designations beyond ideological or political movements to include transnational criminal networks. This shift reflects a deeper redefinition of what Canada considers a national security threat. For much of the post-9/11 era, counterterrorism efforts in Canada have concentrated on groups tied to ideological, religious or political agendas - most often framed through the lens of Islamic terrorism. This has determined not only who is targeted, but also what forms of violence are taken seriously as national security concerns. That is why the recent expansion of terrorism designations - first with the listing of Mexican cartels in early 2025, and now potentially with the Bishnoi gang - feels so significant. It signals a shift away from targeting ideology alone and toward labelling profit-driven organized crime as terrorism. While transnational gangs may pose serious public safety risks, designating them terrorist organizations could erode the legal and political boundaries that once separated counterterrorism initiatives from criminal law. Canada's terrorism listing process only adds to these concerns. The decision is made by cabinet, based on secret intelligence, with no obligation to inform the group or offer a chance to respond. Most of the evidence remains hidden, even from the courts. While judicial review is technically possible, it is limited, opaque and rarely successful. In effect, the label becomes final. It brings serious legal consequences like asset freezes, criminal charges and immigration bans. But the informal fallout can be just as harsh: banks shut down accounts, landlords back out of leases, employers cut ties. Even without a trial or conviction, the stigma of being associated with a listed group can dramatically change someone's life. Using terrorism laws to go after violent criminal networks like the Bishnoi gang may seem justified. But it quietly expands powers that were originally designed for specific types of threats. It also stretches a national security framework already tainted by racial and political bias. Read more: Canadian law enforcement agencies continue to target Muslims For more than two decades, Canada's counterterrorism laws have disproportionately targeted Muslim and racialized communities under a logic of pre-emptive suspicion. Applying those same powers to organized crime, especially when it impacts immigrant and diaspora communities, risks reproducing that harm under a different label. Canadians should be asking: what happens when tools built for exceptional threats become the default response to complex criminal violence? As the federal government considers whether to label the Bishnoi gang a terrorist organization, the real question goes beyond whether the group meets the legal test. It's about what kind of legal logic Canada is endorsing. Terrorism designations carry sweeping powers, with little oversight and lasting consequences. Extending those powers to organized crime might appear pragmatic, but it risks normalizing a process that has long operated in the shadows, shaped by secrecy and executive discretion. As national security law expands, Canadians should ask not just who gets listed, but how those decisions are made and what broader political agendas they might serve.


Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Reds lefty Andrew Abbott named NL All-Star, replacing Dodgers' Yamamoto
CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott is an All-Star after all. Abbott, who's 7-1 with a 2.15 ERA in 15 starts, was named as a replacement Tuesday for the Los Angeles Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who's ineligible to pitch since he's scheduled to start Sunday. It's the first All-Star nod for the 26-year-old Abbott, who was informed during Tuesday night's game against the Miami Marlins and high-fived and hugged teammates in the dugout. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz is Cincinnati's other All-Star. Abbott's ERA would be the fourth best in the majors if he had pitched enough innings to qualify. A pitcher must have at least one inning pitched per games played by his team. The Reds have played 92 games and Abbott has tossed 83 2/3 innings since making his season debut on April 12 after suffering a left shoulder strain in spring training. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. ___ AP MLB: