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MLS investigation into RSL, owner Dell Loy Hansen complete

Dell Loy Hansen
Posted at 7:51 PM, Dec 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-08 21:51:08-05

SALT LAKE CITY — Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber says the league's investigation into alleged racist and sexist behavior inside Real Salt Lake and Utah Soccer Holdings is complete.

In his 2020 State of the League address Tuesday, Garber said MLS is prepared to take over the sale of the franchise should the need exist.

READ: 'Appalled, disgusted but quite honestly not surprised,' players take a stand against Dell Loy Hansen

"While we are not announcing that that's happening today, our tried to take over the sales process is soon and it's more likely than not that we will be assuming that role in the weeks -- I'll just say within the next 30 days." said Garber.

RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen announced in August that he would sell the team after accusations of racism were made against him following comments he made over the summer when players protested over the death of George Floyd.

"The disrespect was profound to me, personally," Hansen said on radio station X96 after RSL players held a strike. "It's taken a lot of wind out of my sails on how much I want to invest in the team -- buying players and building the team."

READ: Hansen mimicked Black employee in front of hundreds at corporate event, employees say

Calls for Hansen to sell the team were met with the owner announcing he would take a leave of absence and put the franchise up for sale.

Garber says MLS will announce the findings of the investigation following this week's MLS Cup.

Meanwhile, Garber added that Utah "has been a great market for Major League Soccer" and there is no plan to move RSL.