Philadelphia Union Official Faces Serious Allegations
A Philadelphia Union official has reportedly made a range of racist, sexist, and homophobic remarks during his time in the MLS, along with allegations of misconduct in the workplace.
Union sporting director Ernst Tanner has been at the center of a lengthy complaint lodged with the league by the MLS Players Association. A recent report discussed by the Guardian noted several instances of misconduct, some of which were not mentioned in the initial complaint.
This complaint was filed in January and was characterized as extensive. The report revealed that 17 officials have been accused of inappropriate behavior during Tanner’s tenure, which began in 2018.
In particular, a June 10, 2023, incident was highlighted, where Tanner allegedly shouted a homophobic slur at a referee during a match in San Jose. Witnesses claim that Tanner yelled, “Why don’t you just give me a kiss, man?” after the referee had an interaction with a player.
One bystander remarked that “at least 20 people heard it,” and noted that a nearby woman appeared frightened by what she heard.
Another troubling incident reportedly occurred in 2018, when Tanner allegedly told Union Academy players that they only needed to worry about female referees. He is quoted as saying, “Women shouldn’t be referees, they should be in the kitchen.” Such comments raise serious concerns, especially regarding a broader culture within the organization.
The report also states that Tanner addressed Black players in a dehumanizing way and made derogatory remarks about Black referees’ intelligence and abilities.
Furthermore, there are claims he inappropriately touched a coworker on multiple occasions, explicitly mentioning contact with their buttocks, as reported by the Philadelphia Human Resources Department.
Tanner has firmly denied all accusations, with his legal representative asserting that he had no inappropriate interactions with colleagues. However, accounts from over a dozen current and former employees indicate that complaints about Tanner’s behavior had reached the HR department, but there seems to have been no discernible action taken.
One source conveyed a common sentiment: “It feels like complaints to HR just get buried.” They added, “People believed that those who reported issues would end up facing consequences instead of the ones they were reporting.”
Despite the severity of these claims, Tanner remains steadfast, insisting that he has been a strong leader for the Philadelphia Union, helping the team achieve two Supporters’ Shields and one Eastern Conference title during his tenure.
The Union acknowledged that Tanner may have made “potentially insensitive gender-based comments” early in his career, stating he has participated in training on the issue since then. They also emphasized their lack of prior knowledge regarding the allegations mentioned in the complaint.
The MLS, the MLSPA, and other associated organizations have not commented as of yet.
A statement from the Philadelphia Union reiterated their commitment to a safe and respectful environment for players and staff and indicated that all allegations of misconduct are taken seriously. While the MLS has not confirmed the allegations, Tanner has undergone a professional workplace conduct remediation program.
This report surfaces just as the Philadelphia Union prepares to compete against New York City FC in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs this Sunday at Subaru Park.
