Austin FC Youth System Facing FBI and Police Investigation Over Abuse Allegations
Multiple academy players at MLS side Austin FC are under investigation by the FBI and local police following serious allegations of youth-on-youth sexual abuse within the club's setup.
Major League Soccer side Austin FC has been shaken by serious allegations of youth-on-youth sexual abuse within its academy system, prompting joint inquiries by local police and the FBI. The ongoing investigations center on interactions between young players in the club's youth pipeline, with multiple sources confirming that law enforcement agencies were brought in following reports from concerned academy families.
Immediate Club and League Response
According to an official statement from the Austin FC Academy, the club was first made aware of the allegations in December 2025. Upon receiving the reports from families, the academy suspended all activities for the impacted age group and reported the situation to MLS, local police, and the US Center for SafeSport.
An internal investigation was launched alongside MLS, resulting in disciplinary action against several academy players. No staff members within the academy have been disciplined. The club and league have since paused their internal proceedings at the request of law enforcement while the official inquiries continue, though FBI agents have already visited the training facility to conduct interviews.
Operational Context and Ongoing Inquiries
The Austin police department confirmed that an active investigation involving juveniles is taking place, noting that further details cannot be released at this stage. Meanwhile, an FBI spokesperson stated the bureau could neither confirm nor deny the presence of an investigation, as per standard protocol.
Austin FC's academy features five teams ranging from U-13 to U-18 levels, involving at least 100 players competing in MLS Next. Both MLS and Austin FC expressed that they are fully cooperating with authorities, emphasizing a trauma-informed approach aimed at protecting player safety and privacy throughout the process. Club sources also noted that recent high-level sporting staff changes at the senior team level were entirely unrelated to the ongoing investigation.