U.S. Soccer defends decision to honor Hope Solo because she "has an opportunity to set a significant record"

Article here. Excerpt:

'The e-mail arrived with this screaming headline: "GOALKEEPER HOPE SOLO ON VERGE OF BREAKING U.S. WNT ALL-TIME SHUTOUT RECORD," featuring a page chock full of statistics and facts from Solo's 14-year international career. ...

Solo, 33, is known for more than soccer these days, unfortunately. She has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor domestic violence in the assault of her sister and 17-year-old nephew, has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial in November.
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This is not the time for U.S. Soccer to be celebrating Solo and her accomplishments. It is the time for Solo to be dealing with her personal and legal issues far away from the soccer field. She has been convicted of no crimes, but neither was Michael Phelps when USA Swimming suspended him for three months in 2009 after a picture surfaced of him smoking a marijuana pipe.
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In an e-mail Tuesday evening, U.S. Soccer defended its decision to honor Solo.

"We are aware that Hope is handling a personal situation at the moment," said Neil Buethe, U.S. Soccer director of communications. "At the same time, she has an opportunity to set a significant record that speaks to her hard work and dedication over the years with the National Team. While considering all factors involved, we believe that we should recognize that in the proper way."
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So what kind of message does this send to the millions of girls and women the U.S. national team has empowered and inspired over the past couple of decades? That alleged domestic violence is somehow different and less alarming when the alleged abuser is a woman?

It's awful for any organization to be implying such a thing in the 21st century. That it's coming from U.S. Soccer makes it all the more disappointing. This is a governing body that definitely knows better.'