EXPLAINED: Claudio Reyna, a former US soccer player, and his wife were allegedly Gregg Berhalter's World Cup blackmail plot

In response to Gregg Berhalter's handling of their son, current national team member Gio Reyna's parents, former American stars Claudio Reyna and his wife Danielle, exposed a 1991 domestic violence incident featuring Berhalter to the soccer association.

On Tuesday, Berhalter revealed a physical altercation with his present wife and claimed someone had informed U.S. Soccer about the event.

In a tweet, Berhalter said that the person claimed, “they had information about me that would take me down” and “bring about the end of my relationship with U.S. Soccer.”

One day later, Danielle Reyna claimed in a declaration that she had spoken to Earnie Stewart, the sporting director of U.S. Soccer and a former member of the national team, regarding the altercation between Berhalter, then 18, and his current wife Rosalind, which had taken place 31 years earlier.

Although Berhalter never specifically mentioned Gio Reyna by name, Danielle Reyna claimed she was offended because of comments the head coach made about her son after the World Cup.

A player was nearly sent home from the World Cup in Qatar due to subpar performance, according to Berhalter, who was speaking at a seminar on moral leadership that day. U.S. Soccer revealed on Tuesday that it received calls on that day. All indications suggested that player was Gio Reyna, who played a small part in the World Cup.

The histories of the Reynas and Berhalters are extensive. When the domestic violence incident occurred, Danielle Reyna and Rosalind Berhalter were playing soccer together for the University of North Carolina. Gregg Berhalter acknowledged to kicking Rosalind in the legs during a dispute.

Gregg Berhalter and Claudio Reyna previously played together for the high school and national teams. Reyna is now the sports director for Austin FC in the MLS.

While an investigation and review of the men's national team are taking place, U.S. Soccer announced on Wednesday that Anthony Hudson had been chosen to replace Berhalter as the coach for the next men's national team camp and exhibition games. At the end of 2022, Berhalter's contract came to an end.

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