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United States men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter helped lead the Yanks to the round of 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup after missing the event altogether in 2018.
But despite what many would call a successful World Cup cycle, Berhalter still had his detractors.
When he contract came up for renewal at the end of 2022, the national team boss was not retained. But there was more to the story. Much more.
Many fans disliked Berhalter for his usage (or lack thereof) of Giovanni Reyna at the World Cup. Reyna, who is just 20 years old, is a rising star for German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund and many believe he’ll be the star of the USMNT for years to come.
Berhalter stated after the World Cup that Reyna’s minutes were limited due to attitude issues, a point that Reyna quickly and fervently disputed.
Shortly after, Berhalter revealed a blackmail plot to have him fired which involved revealing news of domestic incident between he and his now-wife Rosalind in 1992.
But wait, there’s more.
As it turns out, the Reyna’s parents, including his father and former USMNT star Claudio Reyna, were behind the plot.
It was a shocking twist. And one that led to a full-scale independent investigation by the United States Soccer Federation.
Now we have the results of that investigation, and they’re hard to believe.
US Soccer Investigation Reveals Reyna Family Conspired To Black Mail Gregg Berhalter
The report revealed that Claudio Reyna refused to cooperate with the investigation, though his wife Danielle did.
Claudio Reyna was unwilling to participate in the investigation; Danielle Reyna had two brief phone calls.
They both made threats to U.S. Soccer employees about releasing damaging information about Gregg Berhalter’s past during the World Cup.
— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) March 13, 2023
Claudio to USMNT GM Brian McBride: “you
guys don’t even know what we know about Gregg”Danielle to an unnamed U.S. Soccer employee: “Once this tournament is over, I can make one phone call and give one interview, and his cool sneakers and bounce passes will be gone.”
— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) March 13, 2023
Berhalter also condemned the Reyna family for its behavior in Qatar.
G.Berhalter on behavior of Reyna family in Qatar: “There were 150 people in the Friends and Family program at this year’s World Cup. All were having a great time – except for five people who were absolutely miserable. Those five were cursing, acting horribly. It was the Reynas.”
— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) March 13, 2023
The report also backed Berhalter’s description of the incident with his wife and the steps he took afterward to make amends.
The report does not show any involvement by Gio Reyna in the blackmail plot. And Gio Reyna is undeniably still one of the US’s top upcoming talents.
Whether or not Berhalter returns to manage the team will likely depend on he and the younger Reyna making amends. If not, it’s hard to see how the USSF proceeds without a new manager in place.