Wayne Rooney’s Recruitment by D.C. United Results in MLS Diversity Violation Fine

D.C United has been charged a fine of $25,000 by Major League Soccer (MLS) for not fully complying with the league’s diversity hiring policy while hiring Wayne Rooney as head coach in the summer. MLS requires its clubs to ensure at least two candidates from underrepresented groups, including one or more from the Black or African American community, are included in the “finalist pool.” Rooney replaced Hernan Losada in July, following his resignation as League One Derby County manager a few weeks before. D.C. United did put forward qualifying candidates from underrepresented groups, but one of them withdrew after the interview, whereas the other was not part of the finalist pool. The club did not interview an additional candidate from an underrepresented group or request a waiver from MLS to comply with league policy, resulting in the fine. The team accepted the penalty and clarified that they still prioritize interviewing candidates from underrepresented groups for all leadership positions, resulting in one of the most diverse leadership groups among MLS clubs. Rooney’s managerial tenure at DC has been challenging, with the team finishing last in MLS’s Eastern Conference, winning just seven of their 34 games.