Major League Soccer announced on Monday that it has suspended Philadelphia Union sporting director Ernst Tanner without pay through 1 June 2026. Tanner had been under league investigation since mid-November following a Guardian report detailing wide-ranging allegations of misconduct during his tenure at the Union.
“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,” the league said in a statement to the Guardian.
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MLS added that Tanner will be required to complete a league-approved restorative practices program before he is reinstated. MLS offered no further details into what specific details it had substantiated in terms of Tanner’s alleged misconduct.
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MLS’s most recent investigation into Tanner, which was led by law firm Littler Mendelson, was the league’s second investigation into alleged misconduct by the executive. Tanner had previously been investigated after a complaint made early last year by the MLS Players Association (MLSPA) alleged multiple instances of racist, sexist and homophobic behavior, allegations the league was unable to substantiate. The Guardian’s reporting outlined additional allegations and corroborated several within the MLSPA’s complaint. After that report, MLS ordered its investigation reopened and assigned outside counsel to lead it.
Tanner has denied the allegations throughout, saying in November he would cooperate with the league fully as he “[works] to clear my good name and reputation”.
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The Guardian reported last month that the recently reopened investigation had faced hurdles related to some potential witnesses being subjected to non-disclosure agreements. The Union, along with the Littler Mendelson, offered assurances at the time that anybody who wished to speak to league investigators would be allowed to “fully participate” in their investigation without fear of legal action.
Tanner has spent much of his time on leave overseas, sources said last month. On 17 February, Union owner Richie Graham posted two photos on his publicly available Instagram that included Tanner, along with several business associates. At the time, Tanner remained under league investigation and was prohibited from working for the Union.
“The Philadelphia Union had no knowledge of or involvement in this personal trip,” a Union spokesperson told the Guardian at the time. “It was not connected to club business operations or any official team activity.”
A source familiar with the investigation and its outcome said on Monday that the length of Tanner’s suspension closely mirrors the length of the suspension given to former New England Revolution head coach Bruce Arena in 2023. Arena was accused of making “inappropriate and insensitive” comments and later resigned from the Revolution. He has since joined the San Jose Earthquakes as head coach. As is required of Tanner, Arena was ordered to complete a league-approved restorative practices process.
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A source familiar with the investigation told the Guardian that the league’s suspension of Tanner’s pay starts on Monday; it’s unclear still whether Tanner continued to receive pay during the investigation itself. That leave, the source said, was ordered by the Union, not MLS.
“MLS is committed to fostering an environment of respect, inclusion, and accountability,” MLS said in its statement. “We will continue working to ensure our clubs reflect those principles at every level of the organization.”
On the field, the Union have started 2026 poorly, becoming the first team in MLS history to go winless in their opening four matches after compiling the league’s best record a year prior.
