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Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondent
FC Cincinnati temporarily revoked the press credential of local beat reporter Laurel Pfahler following a dispute over her reporting of some of the club’s player transactions, sources told ESPN.
The MLS club made the decision a week ago Friday to revoke Pfahler’s credential for two weeks. Pfahler, who writes for the Queen City Press, communicated the suspension to her readers two days later.
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FC Cincinnati countered with a statement that attacked Pfahler’s professionalism. It said in part that Pfahler “has failed to act in accordance with the standards and practices of the Society of Professional Journalists and the MLS Notice of Credentials Use Conditions. She refuses to accept responsibility for her actions, despite multiple conversations and attempts at working together to forge a productive relationship between her and the club. Out of professional decorum, we will not be sharing the details publicly.”
Pfahler responded with a statement of her own, accusing Cincinnati of “bullying.” The statement also read in part: “I strongly disagree with the statement that I violated any journalism ethics or MLS Credential guidelines.
“Last week, when I asked for examples as to why I had lot credentials, I was told three situations where I spoke to sources outside of the facility or team approved interviews. I do not believe simply talking with sources within the team is how to cover a professional franchise.”
According to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation, Cincinnati took issue with the accuracy of Pfahler’s reporting relating to several player transaction stories. Those sources requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to publicly discuss the situation.
Sources added that among Pfahler’s stories that the club objected to centered on the recent loan of Álvaro Barreal to Brazilian Serie A side Cruzeiro, in particular reporting by Pfahler that Barreal’s departure wasn’t because he was unhappy at the club. The team also took issue with Pfahler not reaching out to them to verify aspects of transfer stories.
Sources also indicated that the credential use conditions Pfahler is alleged to have violated center on Section 12, which states that: “Bearer agrees not to create, transmit, display, distribute, exploit, misappropriate or sell (or aid in such activity) any description or account (in any form, whether text, data or visual, and including, without limitation, play-by-play data) of the Event for any commercial, non-personal, purpose.”
Cincinnati believes that Pfahler violated the portion that refers to misappropriating any description or account, sources said.
MLS declined to comment when contacted by ESPN.
The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR), an advocacy group representing the interests of journalists covering the sport in the region, has met twice with MLS officials in an attempt to broker a resolution.
NASR told ESPN it had been advised by the Society of Professional Journalists that “We are unaware that Cincinnati attempted to use our guidelines as a mechanism to deny access to a journalist. We do not encourage or condone the denial of press credentials for journalists who conduct themselves professionally.”
Pfahler has covered FC Cincinnati, last year’s MLS Supporters’ Shield winners, since its first season in the USL Championship in 2016. She also covers the Cincinnati Bengals on a freelance basis for the Dayton Daily News. She has also written for ESPN, The Athletic and WCPO.com.
Pfahler’s credential is scheduled to be restored in time for the March 23 home match against New York City FC.