Late Friday night, around the time that nearly every MLS fan in the country was watching Lionel Messi’s debut, D.C. United released a statement. In it, the club said it had placed two players — forwards Nigel Robertha and Taxi Fountas — on “paid administrative leave” while the league investigated “possible violations of league policy.”
The club did not specify what those violations were, but The Athletic later learned that Fountas and Robertha had been involved in an altercation, with Robertha alleging that Fountas had directed a racial slur towards him, after which Robertha allegedly assaulted Fountas.
This is the second time that Fountas has been involved in such an investigation, as the Greek international was previously accused of using a slur during a match against Inter Miami last year. The league declined to discipline him in that instance, saying in a statement that while Miami’s allegations were credible, Fountas’ guilt couldn’t conclusively be proven.
Here’s what we know about the new investigation into Fountas and what could come next.
What’s the latest?
The current investigation stems from incidents that occurred during and after D.C. United’s match against the New England Revolution on July 15. In the 67th minute of that game, Fountas and Robertha exchanged words on the field, which was visible on the broadcast. This, according to multiple sources briefed on the investigation, is when Robertha alleges that Fountas used a racial slur — the “N-word” — at him. The two continued to argue, those sources said, until United forward Christian Benteke intervened. These and other sources in this story were granted anonymity because they were not permitted to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation.
After the match, Fountas and Robertha returned to United’s locker room where they exchanged words once again and had to be physically separated. Robertha, those sources said, allegedly struck Fountas with a foam roller (a massaging device), and Fountas berated Robertha. It was after that fight that Robertha made the allegation that Fountas had used the slur on the field.
D.C. United placed both players on administrative leave while the league investigated the incident, the club announced late Friday night. Robertha and Fountas have already spoken to league investigators, with Fountas strongly denying Robertha’s accusation. On Monday, United announced that Robertha had been cleared to rejoin the club’s activities. Fountas remains on leave while the league completes its investigation.
There were no other witnesses to the alleged use of the racist slur on the field. “It is very much a he-said, she-said,” said one source.
Have the players spoken about this?
Neither player has commented on the matter publicly. D.C. United declined to make either player available, noting that league and club policy prevents parties involved in an ongoing investigation from talking to the media.
On Tuesday, D.C. United assistant coach Pete Shuttleworth addressed the media ahead of United’s Leagues Cup match against Montreal. United’s head coach, Wayne Rooney, was scheduled to speak but did not end up doing so — tournament organizers said Rooney was “under the weather.”
“I can say very little at the minute,” Shuttleworth told reporters. “It’s under an MLS investigation, that’s been reported. We have to support that in the best way we can and wait and see what outcome that delivers. That’s as much as I can say on that issue.”
United midfielder Russell Canouse was also asked about the fallout from the incident.
“I’ll speak on behalf of the team. We’re looking to come together,” he said. “Obviously after a situation like that, it’s a difficult moment. We’re looking to come together and put in a performance out there (against Montreal) that shows that we’re a team that came together. (That matter) is in the league’s hands, at this point, so as players we’re just trying to focus on what we can control and give our best going into these next two games with Leagues Cup.”
Why does this sound familiar?
This is the second time Fountas has been accused of using a racial slur during his time in MLS. On Sept. 18, 2022, United’s match against Inter Miami was halted in the 59th minute when Miami defender Aime Mabika accused Fountas of directing a racial slur at Damion Lowe, Makiba’s teammate. After an extended discussion between the referee and both head coaches, Fountas was substituted out of the match.
MLS performed an investigation of the incident, interviewing players and reviewing audio and video from the match. More than a month after the incident, MLS announced its findings, stating that while it found Mabika’s accusation “credible,” it could not conclusively prove that Fountas used the slur. Fountas went unpunished and strongly denied the allegations on his social media channels.
“I did not use the word I am being accused of using,” Fountas wrote in an Instagram story post. “That despicable racial slur is one I denounce and did not use. We had a hot discussion on the field, but I have not racially abused anyone. I firmly reject racism in any form, it is despicable. I have many friends from many cultures. I always respect the culture, religion and skin color of each person. I am therefore very upset by this accusation and saddened to be falsely accused.”
During the investigation, Fountas stayed with his family in Greece. After the conclusion of the investigation, he remained there through the end of the season.
Miami’s players and coaches expressed public displeasure with the results of the MLS investigation.
“I feel as if racism is such an important topic and a subject that we can’t hide away from, that we can’t sweep under the table,” said then-head coach Phil Neville a week after the investigation results were released. “I feel as if obviously at the time there was accusations made and I fully back my players. And I still to this day back my players, that the racism happened on that pitch.”
Miami defender DeAndre Yedlin, speaking in January, said he felt like the league “swept it under the rug a bit.”
“All I can do is keep being a clear voice against racism,” he added.
What happens next?
MLS has not announced a timetable for releasing the investigations’ findings but club sources suggested this week that they expect it to happen quicker than the six weeks the league took to investigate Fountas’ first alleged incident in 2022.
In the meantime, D.C. United has been shopping Fountas, multiple sources familiar with United’s sporting operations said this week. That, though, predates this latest allegation — the club has been looking for offers for Fountas for the past several months. After a breakout year in 2022, Fountas’ output has slowed in 2023. He has six goals in 17 appearances, having started 12 of them. He has struggled, at times, to form a partnership with Benteke, who has become the focal point of United’s attack.
It’s unclear still what sort of impact the allegations against Fountas will have on his value to clubs abroad. If Fountas is found to have used the slur, it’s also unclear how D.C. United would respond beyond the punishment the league itself levies. There is already a sizable contingent of the club’s fan base, on social media at least, calling for the club to cut ties with Fountas permanently.
Is there a precedent for this?
This April, New York Red Bulls player Dante Vanzeir was suspended for six games and fined an undisclosed amount by the league for using a racial slur during a game against the San Jose Earthquakes. Vanzeir immediately admitted to using the slur and said he would accept whatever fine, counseling or other punishment the league levied against him. He returned to the field in May after his teammates unanimously voted to bring him back.
In 2021, Portland Timbers player Diego Chara accused Minnesota United’s Franco Fragapane of directing a slur at him during a match. Much like Fountas’ first investigation, the league said it couldn’t conclusively prove that Fragapane had done so, and no punishment was given. The league has also grappled, at times, with players who have used homophobic language. Cucho Hernandez, Sebastian Lletget and Santiago Sosa have all been suspended in recent years for doing so.
No MLS player has ever faced multiple public allegations in the way Fountas has.
(Photo: Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
