Suspended Union executive has reportedly failed to complete MLS training

Despite being eligible for reinstatement, former Philadelphia Union sporting director Ernst Tanner has not resumed duties with the club, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation said this week, in part because he has yet to complete his league-ordered restorative practices training. Tanner was suspended through 1 June by Major League Soccer after a league-ordered investigation found he had violated “policies and standards of professional conduct required of League and Club leadership”. That investigation, which concluded in March, was the league’s second inquiry into alleged misconduct by Tanner; he had previously been investigated after an MLS Players Association complaint alleged multiple instances of racist, sexist and homophobic behavior. MLS initially closed its initial investigation when it was unable to substantiate those complaints. The Guardian’s own investigation late last year substantiated many of those complaints and raised additional concerns, prompting the league to reopen its investigation and, eventually, suspend Tanner without pay. Neither the league or Union offered any clarity into which specific allegations the investigation substantiated. Tanner has denied the allegations against him. MLS declined to comment on Tanner’s status. The Philadelphia Union did not respond to repeated requests for comment. …