Saturday 27 August 2016 20:28, UK
United States goalkeeper Hope Solo has taken personal leave from her club side Seattle Reign after being hit with a six-month ban.
The suspension only applies to international matches but Solo has decided to take time away from football after being criticised for making some controversial comments at the Olympic Games earlier this month.
Solo called Sweden's players "a bunch of cowards" after they had knocked the USA out of the women's football tournament in Rio 5-4 on a penalty shootout.
The 35-year-old is planning to appeal against the suspension, even though it will most likely only mean her missing a handful of friendlies.
But her career could now be in some doubt with the Reign announcing her decision to take an indefinite break from the sport.
"This is life-changing for her," Reign coach Laura Harvey said before Solo's leave was announced.
"We're all very mindful of that. We're very conscious that we want to have conversations with her privately about what this means to her and what she's thinking before we even think about what that might mean for us in the long term."
The Reign have acted to bring in goalkeeper Andi Tostanoski ahead of Saturday's clash with the Portland Thorns.
Tostanoski, 21, played in two games for the Reign earlier this season against Western New York.
