RSL owner Hansen takes leave of absence amid investigation

Warning: Story contains coarse language

Dell Loy Hansen, the owner of MLS side Real Salt Lake, the NWSL's Utah Royals FC, and the USL's Utah Monarchs, has taken a leave of absence from all team operations, Utah Soccer announced Friday.

The move comes amid investigations by both MLS and NWSL into Hansen's recent comments about athlete-led protests and allegations that Hansen has used racist language during his tenure with the organizations.

In a radio interview Thursday morning, Hansen took exception to the Real Salt Lake players' walkout after police shot Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Aug. 23.

"The disrespect was profound to me, personally," Hansen said, according to The Athletic's Sam Stejskal.

Later Thursday, in an explosive story from The Athletic, former RSL head scout Andy Williams likened Hansen's past conduct to that of disgraced former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who the NBA ousted in 2014 after his racist comments came to light.

"He says something, and it's like, 'Oh my God, what did he just say?'" Williams said. "It's Donald Sterling Part 2. It's just unbelievable. It's crazy how he doesn't see that the stuff that he says affects people."

In one of several instances detailed by Williams, Hansen purportedly made a comment about lynching a Black player, Kellyn Acosta - who had scored a goal against Real Salt Lake in a previous matchup - in front of both Acosta himself and his agent. Williams also said he heard Hansen use the N-word while in a dispute with Real Salt Lake's equipment manager.

Following Hansen's radio interview and The Athletic article, the MLS Players Association called for the league to suspend Hansen, a sentiment the NWSLPA supported. Meanwhile, Toronto FC forward Jozy Altidore said he's part of a group ready to purchase control of RSL after Hansen said the players' walkout "took the wind out of" his desire to invest in the club.