A Restorative Process and Its Fallout
The San Jose Earthquakes announced this week that Gavin Wilkinson, a former executive whose career has been marred by allegations of sexual misconduct and mishandling of abuse reports, would join the club as an independent consultant for the remainder of the season. The move follows a ‘restorative practices’ process that the club says cleared him for work in Major League Soccer.
The hiring has been met with immediate resistance from the NWSL’s Bay FC and from supporters who have taken to social media to voice their opposition. Critics argue that the decision undermines the league’s efforts to prioritize player safety and accountability.
Wilkinson’s history in professional soccer is extensive. Over two decades in Portland, he rose from player to executive with the Portland Timbers and the Portland Thorns, the latter of which he led until a 2022 dismissal that stemmed from allegations of failing to report domestic‑violence claims involving midfielder Andy Polo and from a broader culture that allowed former coach Paul Riley to operate unchecked.
A Troubled Tenure in Portland
In 2021, after The Athletic detailed Riley’s sexual‑misconduct allegations, Wilkinson was placed on administrative leave from his Thorns role but remained in charge of the Timbers. The following year, he faced further criticism when reports surfaced that the club had not reported domestic‑violence allegations against Polo to MLS. After his October 2022 firing, Wilkinson spent more than a year out of the public eye before being tapped by Sporting Kansas City as sporting director, a position he left amid fan backlash.
He later returned to the MLS office as a consultant, a role that eventually led to his hiring by the Earthquakes. The club has not disclosed how prior complaints were addressed, and head coach Bruce Arena declined to comment on the hiring process, stating only that Wilkinson’s responsibilities are limited to a consulting capacity.
Bay FC issued a statement emphasizing that Wilkinson’s history is inconsistent with its standards for leadership, citing his past actions and the broader impact on professional soccer. Supporters of the Earthquakes have responded with banners reading ‘GW Out,’ demanding his termination and calling for a renewed focus on safety and accountability.