D.C. United terminates Taxi Fountas' contract for using discriminatory language

Major League Soccer club D.C. United has parted ways with forward Taxi Fountas for violating team policy.

D.C. United and Fountas "mutually agreed" to terminate his contract, effective immediately, the team announced on Thursday, nearly three weeks after Fountas was placed on administrative leave for allegedly using "prohibited and discriminatory language" against another player. D.C. United launched an investigation and determined the allegations were "credible."

“There is no place for racism, homophobia, misogyny or discrimination of any kind in our sport and world and D.C. United do not tolerate any acts of this nature," the team said in a statement. MLS added, "Major League Soccer and its clubs are committed to eradicating racism from the game."

D.C. UNITED fires trainer for discriminatory gesture; two players placed on leave by team

Fountas, a native of Greece, signed with D.C. United in January 2022 and scored 18 goals in 38 appearances, but his short time on the MLS club was marred by multiple incidents involving alleged racial abuse.

On July 21, Fountas was placed on administrative leave, along with teammate Nigel Robertha. According to The Athletic, Fountas and Robertha, who is Black, got into a fight after Fountas directed a racial slur at him during a training session. Fountas, 27, hasn't played for the club since.

Last year, the league investigated an allegation that Fountas used racially abusive language toward Miami defender Aimé Mabika during a match. The league said it found the allegation credible but could not find corroborating evidence, and Fountas was not disciplined.

In a separate incident, head athletic trainer Reade Whitney was fired in July after the team said he made a discriminatory hand gesture in a photo that was posted on social media.

Contributing: The Associated Press