Fuego Coach Jermaine Jones Suspended by United Soccer League
The United Soccer League Players Association, a union of professional soccer players, filed a labor complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Central Valley Fuego soccer club coach Jermaine Jones in April, saying he interrogated players about union activities and threatened to retaliate against them if they joined the union.
The union spurred the United Soccer League (USL) to undertake an investigation into Jones’s behavior toward his players. Jones was subsequently suspended. The Athletic, a New York Times sports publication, broke the story on Oct. 10.
The USL investigation substantiated “repeated instances of harassment, retaliation and hostility from Jones toward members of his team,” wrote The Athletic’s Jeff Reuter.
“Jones was suspended through the end of the 2024 season,” Reuter wrote, and he was “put on probation for the 2025 season.
“The investigation is closed and its findings and punishment are final.”
A player told Reuter, “He comes in here, saying he played for the U.S. national team, he’s powerful. He has friends in the federation and all over the place. He tells us that if he wants to destroy someone, he can destroy their career.”
A club employee said, “It’s been nothing short of a complete catastrophe, and it’s so toxic. It doesn’t need to be like that.”
Central Valley Fuego Beats Spokane Velocity, 1-0
It was Hispanic Heritage night at the Fuego game against Spokane Velocity on Oct. 9. There were mariachi dancers giving their all in the lane leading from the parking lot to the stands. And at halftime, the Niños Azteca youth dancers from Fowler put on a presentation.
The stands were two-thirds full for a win by their team. A goal by Sean Vinberg five minutes into the first half gave Fuego a lead they fought to keep, and they did keep, until the final whistle.
A standout performance during the game came from goalkeeper Carlos Avilez, who stopped several on-target shots by Spokane, sent his goal kicks far downfield and gave his team direction throughout.
Unfortunately, Fuego is still at the bottom of the league standings.
Fuego Wins against Greenville Triumph SC
The final home game of the season for Fuego FC was an Oct. 20 match against Greenville Triumph SC. Fuego scored in the 83rd minute with a header from Dembor Benson, on an assist by Alfredo Midence.
Fuego then held their own. About five minutes from the end of the game, a Fuego assistant coach called out “No fouls! Don’t make a foul!” A minute and a half later a Fuego player fouled a Greenville player, and Greenville got a nice chance with a free kick just outside the penalty area. The Fuego fans held their breath, but it was a miss, and they broke out in cheers.
The final score was 1-0.
