Report: Ernst Tanner facing allegations of sexist, racist and homophobic behavior

Soccer writer Pablo Iglesias Mauer dropped a bombshell report on Tuesday outlining a series of allegations made against Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner.

The report, printed in The Guardian, cites multiple allegations made both in a formal complaint to the MLS Players Association and through Mauer’s interviews with current and former staff members through the course of reporting the story.

While Tanner has been universally praised for his work at the club since 2018 putting together successful Philadelphia Union squads through savvy overseas signings, timely domestic transfers and strategic sales of young prospects, Mauer’s report paints a behind-the-scenes picture of a disturbing pattern of alleged behavior.

Tanner has denied the allegations and is still employed with the club as they prepare for their Eastern Conference semifinal match with NYCFC on Sunday. But the allegations cast a cloud around his future at the club he’s built into a perennial winner and raises additional questions about the departure of several staff members, including his firing of head coach Jim Curtin after the team missed the playoffs last season.