Henry Merritt Paulson III, the current acting owner of the Portland Timbers Football Club and Portland Thorns Football Clubs, has been an active participant in the systemic complacency and coverup of known abuses toward women by the men under his employment.. In the past 12 months, it has come to public attention that Portland Thorns players Mana Shimm and Sinead Farrelly were subjected to sexual coercion and other abuses at the hand of former Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley. Upon discovery and public reporting of the abuses, in which Merritt Paulson was complicit, he failed to report the abuses to the league and contributed to the quiet transfer of Riley to another team.  As a result of his failure to report and hold Riley accountable for his actions, Merritt Paulson has perpetuated the abuse of more players on other teams.. 

In February 2022, it was discovered through news coverage, and later public acknowledgement via statement from the Timbers’ Front Office, that Timbers player Andy Polo was accused of multiple domestic violence incidents against his estranged wife. These incidents include endangering the welfare of his young children, who witnessed these abuses. Despite full knowledge of these events, Merritt Paulson was complicit in failing to take action and participated in actively covering up these known incidents ahead of renewing a contract for Polo’s tenure on the team for another season. Only after interviews, news reports, video evidence of abuse by Polo, and Merritt Paulson’s failure to take action, were made internationally public that any action was taken to report the incidents to the league and take disciplinary action toward Polo. 

Merritt Paulson’s response to any criticism of his complacency and willingness to cover up abuse and crimes perpetrated by males under his employment has been to stonewall, insult, and personally block anyone who publicly speaks up.  His failure to act, and continued willingness to cover up crimes and abuses against women perpetrated by males under his employment has fostered a toxic and dangerous environment for all female players and employees directly under his oversight, as well as all females in our local soccer communities, and in general. These abusers have continued to victimize women without recourse or accountability as a result of  Merritt Paulson’s failure to take action; leading  only to an increase in damage, harm, and number of victims. 

Merritt Paulson is a danger to the soccer community, the Portland community, and women in general. His continued ownership of the Portland Timbers and Thorns is a blemish on the face of the city, state, teams,  in addition to the MLS and NWSL leagues. 

We ask  that Merritt Paulson’s ownership be immediately recalled so that the community, the  teams, and the supporters of these teams can regain some sense of justice, safety, and ease.

For a timeline of the KNOWN events (given the history of covering issues up, we cannot assume these are all of the abuses and issues that have been hidden from the league, the teams, and the public), please visit this link: https://tinyurl.com/TimelineOfIssues