Ad Disclosure
Ernst Tanner Suspension: We Learned Absolutely Nothing from Three Separate Statements
Published:
Major League Soccer announced this week that Union sporting director Ernst Tanner will be suspended until June 1st, putting out this statement:
NEW YORK (March 16, 2026) – Following the completion of an investigation conducted by the law firm Littler Mendelson, Major League Soccer has suspended Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Ernst Tanner without pay through June 1, 2026.
On November 19, 2025, MLS reopened its investigation into allegations of inappropriate and insensitive comments and Mr. Tanner was placed on administrative leave.
Based on new information obtained during outside counsel’s independent review, the investigation substantiated violations of MLS policies and standards of professional conduct required of League and Club leadership.
Prior to his reinstatement, Tanner must successfully complete a League-approved restorative practices program.
MLS is committed to fostering an environment of respect, inclusion, and accountability. We will continue working to ensure our clubs reflect those principles at every level of the organization.
To jog your memory, veteran MLS writer Pablo Maurer reported back in November that MLS investigated Tanner following claims of homophobic, racist, and sexist behavior. Maurer wrote that 17 sources made these allegations over seven years, which MLS could not corroborate, resulting in closure of the investigation while Tanner had to go through a “structured remedial program.” The alleged infractions include inappropriately touching a co-worker, comments that “women don’t belong in men’s soccer,” and racist language directed at black players. He was alleged to have called a referee a “faggot” back in 2023.
After Maurer’s report dropped, MLS reopened the investigation, which resulted in this suspension, the league statement, and then this from the Union:
STATEMENT FROM THE PHILADELPHIA UNION
Based on the findings from Major League Soccer’s investigation, the Philadelphia Union supports the league’s disciplinary action and restorative practices program for Sporting Director Ernst Tanner. The Union will evaluate the best and appropriate structure for the organization following the disciplinary process.
During this time, Jon Scheer, Director of Academy and Professional Development, will serve as Interim Sporting Director.
The Philadelphia Union remains committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for everyone associated with our club.
STATEMENT FROM ERNST TANNER
“I regret the impact that this situation has had on the Philadelphia Union organization and its supporters. I remain proud of my work with the Philadelphia Union and look forward to my return and future work with the team.”
In all three statements, the only line that tells us anything at all is “the investigation substantiated violations of MLS policies and standards of professional conduct required of League and Club leadership.”
That’s it. No details, no nothing, just confirmation that he did something wrong and is now suspended. Makes you wonder what he said and didn’t say, doesn’t it? Did he make a sexist comment but not a racist comment? Did he touch a co-worker inappropriately? The only thing that anybody has confirmed through all of this is the Union telling Maurer originally that Tanner “was found to have made potentially insensitive gender-based comments early in his tenure, for which he underwent training and had discussions with club leadership.” And if the league took no action the first time, what changed this time around? Obviously the “new information.” They’re telling us that the original information could not be corroborated, but they found something different this time around, which led to the suspension.
Furthermore, if Tanner was indeed found culpable, you wouldn’t know it from his statement or the Union’s statement. There’s no apology, no contrition, no admission of anything at all. His statement is the equivalent of ‘I’m sorry if you were offended‘ and gives us absolutely nothing to go with. He doesn’t regret whatever it is that got him suspended, but he regrets “the impact” it had on the organization and the fans.
Of course, with lawyer involvement and similarly-dense entanglement, there are things that can’t be said. Maurer reported as much when he wrote in February that non-disclosure agreements were snarling the investigation. The Union, at the time, said NDA releases would be granted to allow participation in the re-opened investigation.
And yet – we learned nothing.
How are we supposed to render any kind of judgment if Major League Soccer and the Philadelphia Union tell us jack shit? The suspension confirms that he did something wrong. And if that something wrong was being racist or sexist, then were those fireable offenses? And if they weren’t, who made that decision? What was the process to determine the appropriate punishment? What does a “restorative practices program” even entail? Does he have to click through some DEI slides on a laptop while not giving a shit?
If we don’t have anything to go with, all we can assume is that Ernst got away with a slap on the wrist. Zero transparency for Union fans, who might want to know whether or not the guy building the team is decent human being. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com