D.C. United Terminates Taxi Fountas’ Contract Amidst Racial Slur Allegations
D.C. United announced on Thursday that they have reached an agreement with Taxi Fountas to mutually terminate his contract. This decision comes in the wake of an ongoing league investigation into allegations that Fountas directed a racial slur towards his former teammate, Nigel Robertha. It is the second time that Fountas has been investigated for using a racial slur, with the previous incident occurring in 2022 during a game for Inter Miami.
The league has characterized the recent allegation against Fountas as credible, leading to his contract termination. In a statement, D.C. United expressed their zero-tolerance policy towards any form of discrimination and emphasized that there is no place for racism in the sport.
Fountas has remained silent since the investigation began and has not publicly addressed the allegations. The incident allegedly occurred during a match against the New England Revolution in mid-July, where Fountas and Robertha were involved in a heated argument on the field. Following the game, Robertha claimed that Fountas had directed a racial slur towards him. Both players were initially placed on leave, but Robertha was reinstated a week later while Fountas remained on leave indefinitely.
During the investigation, no other players interviewed confirmed hearing Fountas use the racial slur. It was also noted that Fountas and Robertha were not in close proximity to other players during their argument. In an attempt to clear his name, Fountas commissioned a polygraph test, but the results have not been made public.
With Fountas’ departure, D.C. United now has an open designated player spot on their roster. However, since the MLS summer transfer window has just closed, it is more likely that the team will fill the spot during the winter transfer window. In the meantime, the club has the option to sign a free agent or designate one of their current players who earns above the senior max as the third designated player.
If D.C. United decides to pursue a free agent, there are several enticing options available. Jesse Lingard, a former Manchester United teammate of D.C. manager Wayne Rooney, is currently a free agent after leaving Nottingham Forest. Colombian forward Alfredo Morelos is also available after his contract with Rangers expired. Both players could provide an attacking boost to complement Christian Benteke, the team’s leading scorer.
Fountas had been a key player for D.C. United, appearing in 38 games over a season-and-a-half and scoring 18 goals while assisting on four others. In 2022, he was selected for the league’s All-Star team. However, his productivity declined in 2023, and the team had been actively seeking a buyer for him prior to his contract termination.
The termination of Fountas’ contract brings an end to the league’s investigation into the allegations against him. D.C. United’s decision reflects their commitment to promoting a safe and inclusive environment within the sport.
In conclusion, D.C. United’s decision to terminate Taxi Fountas’ contract amidst racial slur allegations demonstrates their commitment to addressing and eradicating discrimination in soccer. The team now has an opportunity to fill the void left by Fountas and strengthen their roster as they continue their pursuit of success in Major League Soccer.