Jul 24, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Philadelphia Union sporting director Ernst Tanner speaks to media members about league rule changes at the Hilton Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports Joseph Maiorana
The Philadelphia Union on Wednesday placed sporting director Ernst Tanner on administrative leave after allegations of racist and sexist behavior surfaced in an article published by The Guardian a day earlier.
Both MLS and the Union released statements, with MLS detailing its past investigations and reopening a probe into Tanner. The Union said it “continues to cooperate fully” with the investigation.
Major League Soccer Statement pic.twitter.com/gpxjktV6qA
An investigation by The Guardian revealed incidents dating back several years involved Tanner. They included derogatory language of a homophobic and sexist nature directed toward match officials; demeaning comments about Black players and referees; and internal allegations addressed by the Union’s human resources department of inappropriate touching of a co-worker.
The Union, in a statement to The Guardian, said it had taken action – including training and discussions with leadership – after Tanner was found to “have made potentially insensitive gender-based comments early in his tenure.” The complaint that The Guardian revealed for the first time was brought by the MLS Players Association in January and closed some time after.
Tanner’s attorney “firmly denied” the accusations in a statement to The Guardian.
MLS released a statement addressing that investigation. It said that “after reviewing all available information and documentation, the investigation was unable to substantiate the allegations,” though Tanner “has been required to participate in a structured remedial program focused on professional workplace conduct.”
The Union’s statement included, “While a recent MLS investigation was unable to corroborate allegations involving Sporting Director Ernst Tanner, MLS has advised the Union that it will be reopening the investigation and the Union continues to cooperate fully. The Union has placed Mr. Tanner on administrative leave during the investigation. Throughout this process, our top priority remains the well-being of our players, fans, staff, and community.”
Tanner was named the club’s sporting director in 2018. The club has made the playoffs every season save for one in his tenure. He was instrumental in building the teams that won the Supporters’ Shield in 2020 and 2025, with the Union still alive in the Eastern Conference semifinals this weekend against New York City FC.
He has a reputation as one of the league’s shrewdest acquirers of talent, both in undervalued assets within MLS and smart foreign signings for a club that regularly ranks among the lowest spenders in the league. He has also helped turn the Union into one of MLS’s best developers of young talent, codifying the club’s connection to its academy pipeline. The recent international window featured four Union Academy products on the U.S. roster among a dozen players selected at all age levels in that window.
Tanner, 59, was hired by the Union after six years working with the academy at Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. He began his career at 1860 Munich in his native Germany, rising to be the Director of Football and Chief Executive Officer at Hoffenheim.
Read the full investigation by The Guardian here.
