Hope Solo says domestic violence scandal has been 'traumatic and embarrassing'

United States goalkeeper Hope Solo, whose presence at the Women's World Cup has corresponded with the release of new information relating to the domestic violence allegations levelled against her in 2014, says she feared that her career was in jeopardy while dealing with the ongoing scandal.

In an interview with "People" magazine published this weekend, Solo addressed the allegations that she assaulted her sister and then-17-year-old nephew in June of last year – she was facing two counts of fourth-degree domestic violence assault, but the charges were ultimately dismissed by a judge in Washington earlier this year.

"It's been painful," she told the magazine of the ongoing discussion around her involvement in the tournament, as quoted by Martin Rogers of USA TODAY. "I almost lost my career. It's been traumatic and embarrassing."

She continued:

"I wish my name was cleared. But people still believe I hit a child."

The furor around Solo's appearance in Canada, which had been aimed at the U.S. Soccer Federation in the buildup to the tournament for their decision to let her remain on the team, shifted primarily onto the 33-year-old when a report from ESPN was published just days ahead of the tournament, chronicling fresh details about her belligerence towards police on the night of the alleged incident.

Solo, who claims that she is "at peace" with the situation, will be between the posts when the Americans meet Colombia in their Round of 16 match on Monday.

The American star has been rightly criticized in some circles – and less so in others – for comments like these, in which, it seems, she is attempting to craft a narrative that makes her out to be the victim of the situation.

While it has not impacted her play – she remains easily one of the best goalkeepers in the world – the two issues are very much separate ones and her performance should not cast a shadow over the details of the alleged domestic violence incident.