Chivas Coaches File Suit For Wrongful Firing

Two former coaches at a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise in California are suing the team for wrongful termination after they were allegedly fired because of their race. The men claim their employment was terminated because they are not Latino, even though they are former pros who had been on the U.S. national team. The men filed their suit in Los Angeles County in late May.

Official reports show the pair is seeking compensation for discrimination, wrongful termination and retaliation. The team reportedly fired them for unprofessional behavior that led to an unsafe working environment, according to official documents.

The two coaches were employed by Chivas USA in the player development program, also known as an academy. They allege the team’s owner, who hails from Mexico, had enacted a Latino-only hiring system. The two coaches, both white, said the team owner carried over this discriminatory policy from his tenure as the leader at a team in Guadalajara, Mexico.

In an example of the discriminatory practices, one of the coaches relayed a story about the owner asking who could speak Spanish during a staff meeting. The group that could not speak Spanish appeared to be targeted after that, as other staff members conversed and gave directions to players in Spanish.

So far, the Los Angeles-based team has not issued an official statement about the pending suit. A co-defendant in the matter, a Texas-based human resources company, has also remained tight-lipped in relation to the legal action. The HR firm is under fire for failing to act after the two men filed formal complaints.

Scores of Californians face retaliation and wrongful termination each year. If you have been victimized by your employer, you do not have to suffer in silence. Consider seeking the assistance of a qualified employment attorney to help you learn more about your legal options. Your attorney could help you get the money you need and deserve after illegal employment actions.

Source: edition.cnn.com, “2 coaches of Chivas USA allege team fired them for not being Latino” Michael Martinez & Jaqueline Hurtado, May. 30, 2013