A prominent Major League Soccer (MLS) executive, known for building a powerhouse team, is facing serious allegations of sexist, racist, and homophobic behavior. The accusations have prompted an internal investigation by the league, which recently concluded without corroborating the claims.

The executive in question is Ernst Tanner, the sporting director for the Philadelphia Union since 2018. During his tenure, Tanner has been credited with transforming the Union into a competitive force within the MLS. However, these achievements are now overshadowed by allegations detailed in a complaint filed by the MLS Players Association (MLSPA).

The allegations include instances of racist, sexist, and homophobic commentary allegedly directed towards referees and opposition players. Furthermore, there is an allegation of unwanted touching of a Union employee, which was reportedly escalated to the team's HR department. The Guardian reported that these allegations are supported by recollections of Tanner's alleged comments recounted firsthand, along with additional evidence, including emails, text messages, and video. Additional allegations not contained in the MLSPA complaint were recalled separately by multiple sources who were present for the incidents and were supported by contemporaneous accounts.

One specific incident highlighted in the report involves a match on June 10, 2023, where Tanner allegedly made inappropriate comments towards referee Nima Saghafi after a brief interaction with Union player Jamiro Monteiro.

Tanner has denied the allegations. The MLS launched an investigation into the matter, but the investigation concluded that the league could not corroborate the claims.

These allegations against Tanner are not isolated incidents within the MLS. In July 2025, a former MLS marketing executive, Cedric Shine, sued the league, alleging he was fired for reporting racial discrimination by his superiors. Shine, who is Black, claimed he was passed over for a promotion in favor of a white colleague and faced retaliation after complaining to human resources. His lawsuit detailed a "toxic leadership team" that allegedly stonewalled his work and fabricated complaints about his performance. The MLS settled a similar lawsuit in March 2022 with Karine Travieso, a Black former media executive who alleged she was fired for speaking out against racism and discrimination.

In 2019, Real Salt Lake head coach Mike Petke was fired for using anti-gay slurs towards referees. Similarly, in 2021, LA Galaxy player Sebastian Lletget was investigated for using a homophobic slur on social media. These incidents highlight a recurring issue within the league and raise questions about the culture and environment within MLS organizations.

These incidents raise concerns about the culture within MLS and whether enough is being done to address issues of discrimination and harassment. While the MLS has anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training, these cases suggest that further action is needed to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all.