Austin FC academy players under investigation by police and FBI for alleged sexual abuse of teenagers | Austin FC
Several players at Major League Soccer club Austin FC’s academy are being investigated by Austin police and the FBI over allegations of sexual harassment in the club’s youth program. Multiple sources, who spoke to the Guardian on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation, said the investigation focused on alleged collusion between the school’s players. A source familiar with the matter said several school families have reported the allegations to Austin FC.
The Austin Police Department confirmed the ongoing investigation to the Guardian on Thursday, adding that because it “involves children and is ongoing”, no further details can be shared. An FBI spokeswoman said the bureau would not “confirm or deny” that there is an investigation and declined to comment further. MLS and Austin FC sources confirmed the presence of the Austin Police Department and the FBI investigation.
“In December 2025, we became aware of allegations of youth misconduct occurring within a group of academy players,” Austin FC Academy said in a statement provided to the Guardian. “After hearing about these issues from the affected Academy families, Austin FC Academy took immediate action.”
The agency said in a statement that its officials immediately reported the allegations to MLS, the US Center for SafeSport and local law enforcement and began an internal investigation in cooperation with the league. The agency has also suspended “all operations” of the age group affected by the allegations while the matter is investigated. The FBI visited the club’s training facility to conduct interviews, a club source told the Guardian.
Sources within MLS and Austin FC said several academy players were disciplined as a result of their investigation but none of Austin FC’s academy staff. That source said the league and club could take further action if new information comes to light, but both Austin FC and the league itself have been asked to put their plans on hold until law enforcement completes theirs.
“We continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement throughout their ongoing investigation,” Austin FC Academy said in a statement to the Guardian. Throughout this process, Austin FC Academy and MLS have taken proactive steps guided by our unwavering commitment to the health, safety and well-being of our young players and will continue to do so.
“MLS takes matters of player safety very seriously,” the league said in a statement to the Guardian. “Throughout this process, MLS and Austin FC have approached this issue with a trauma-informed perspective, prioritizing the safety and well-being of the young people involved, protecting their privacy, reducing the risk of further harm, and communicating carefully with law enforcement and other appropriate authorities. MLS prioritizes the safety and well-being of players and will continue to operate in a respectful and safe environment.”
The Austin FC academy program includes five teams, from age groups ranging from U-13 to U-18. At least 100 players are participating in the program, which is overseen by a diverse coaching staff and leadership structure. in a large group. The teams compete in MLS Next, a youth tournament run by the league that began in 2020. Like most MLS academies, Austin FC recruits nationwide and offers homestay arrangements for out-of-town players. They also provide their players with a school education through an agreement with Florida-based SAI School, which provides on-campus education for many MLS schools.
At the top level, Austin’s sporting department has changed significantly in recent months, with the club stepping down from head coach Nico Estévez and sporting director Rodolfo Borrell in May. On Friday, a party source said those changes had nothing to do with the allegations. Austin ended up replacing Estevez with former Philadelphia Union coach Jim Curtin, though he won’t take over until the 2027 sprint season. The team, led by interim coach Davy Arnaud, sits 14th out of 15 in the Western Conference, three points behind last-place Sporting Kansas City.
