Dash fire assistant coach for fraternization violation

The Houston Dash fired goalkeepers coach Matt Lampson for an alleged violation of the NWSL's policies against fraternization.

The league and the team engaged a third-party attorney to investigate claims that Lampson, 34, had an improper relationship with a player.

"The investigator determined that Lampson violated the NWSL Anti-Fraternization Policy and NWSL Coach Code of Conduct which require coaches to maintain strict adherence to professional boundaries but did not find a violation of the NWSL Anti-Harassment Policy which is focused on preventing abusive, discriminatory, or harassing behavior," an NWSL spokesperson said in a statement Thursday to ESPN.

Lampson, who was placed on administrative leave during the investigation, is suspended from future employment in the NWSL through the end of the 2024 season.

According to ESPN, his administrative leave began in January and he was fired on Monday.

Lampson first joined the Dash at the start of the 2022 NWSL season.

Lampson, a goalkeeper, appeared in 61 matches (59 starts) during a 10-year MLS career with the Columbus Crew, Chicago Fire, Minnesota United and LA Galaxy. He won the MLS Cup with the Crew in 2020 and was named the MLS Humanitarian of the Year in 2016, 2018 and 2019.