Don’t forget Ernst Tanner, the sporting director of the Philadelphia Union – he’s on very thin ice. Those accusations of sexist, racist, and homophobic behavior have come forth, extending back to his time with the club since 2018. At least eight former and current employees have come forward with credible allegations detailing Tanner’s inappropriate behavior. Specifically, they accuse him of using sexist language, forcing unwanted contact on workers, and subjecting them to invasive behavior.
In 2019, these accusations came to light when one of the employees filed a notice with the Union’s Human Resources division. They accused Tanner of having unwanted physical contact with a club employee. Since then, dozens of employee testimonies have come out describing a horrible toxic workplace with Tanner at the helm.
In a surprising incident, Tanner then came under fire for making sexist remarks about women’s soccer. This happened during an event where he had laid out his vision for the Union’s upcoming third academy. He allegedly told attendees, “this isn’t women’s soccer, go back to women’s soccer – women don’t belong in men’s soccer.” Comments like that have made many wonder if he’s committed to gender equality within the sport.
Inappropriate Comments and Behavior
These allegations against Tanner go beyond his sexist comments. Sources have alleged that he made other egregious statements of a racist nature towards Black players and officials. One of those hateful comments even read, “This is the problem with MLS, they’re letting Black referees into the league. When did they allow this? They lack intelligence and capability.” Another source reported that Tanner referred to African coaches saying, “It’s a good thing we invited the African coaches; they’re used to eating food off the floor.”
These incidents help to seed an increasingly negative narrative of Tanner’s supposed discriminatory practices. A source familiar with the matter noted, “He thinks people are below him, and that he can get away with anything.” The unqualified resignation reflected an alarming history of actions, which has drawn fury from those employed by the league.
The effects of Tanner’s reported misconduct are more than rhetorical. In 2020, he brought in Sven Gartung to coach Union II, the club’s reserve team. Internal sources told us that Gartung was fired after a sexually inappropriate encounter with another Union staffer. Reports suggest that Gartung threatened a prominent academy player after he was ruled out due to a concussion, stating, “I’m gonna cut your testicles off and hang them on the wall” if the player missed a game.
Lack of Accountability
The incidents of Tanner’s misconduct detailed in these complaints, made by former and current employees, speak for themselves. In doing so they claim that the club has done nothing to address any of these complaints. One source commented on the atmosphere of fear surrounding the reporting of such incidents: “100% you can get blacklisted for speaking publicly about any of this.” This lack of accountability is troubling at best, as it undermines the club’s professed commitment to a workplace of respect.
Mark Geiger, who is a well known character in and around MLS, took exception to the claims. He stated, “If these remarks are proven to be true, we are appalled.” Although lofty, such statements from industry leaders display a burgeoning intolerance for discriminatory behavior in all forms of professional sports.
Tanner’s legal representation have produced favorable declarations from five current and former coworkers, three of whom are Black. Tanner has denied all allegations vehemently since the onset of this matter through his attorney. For one, he at times calls the current regulations outdated, going back six or seven years.
Culture of Respect and Development
Despite the serious allegations against him, Jon Scheer, the director of the academy, defended Tanner by stating that he “fostered a culture rooted in accountability, development and respect.” This clause indicates that there is significant dissent about Tanner’s autocratic leadership style from inside the organization.
Tanner’s Union team was immediately tested in June 2023 with a grueling 2-1 match loss to the San Jose Earthquakes. In addition to emerging from razor-sharp competition, Tanner now has significant leadership expectations. New allegations have recently surfaced, which are further complicating his position within the organization.