Ernst Tanner has not returned to work at Philadelphia Union despite his MLS suspension officially expiring on 1 June, with sources telling the Guardian this week that the suspended executive has yet to complete the restorative practices training ordered by the league as a condition of reinstatement.

Tanner was handed a suspension without pay after Major League Soccer's second investigation into his conduct found he had violated what the league described as "policies and standards of professional conduct required of League and Club leadership". Neither MLS nor the Union specified which precise allegations the inquiry substantiated. Tanner himself continues to deny the claims against him.

A long road back — if at all

The noises out of the Philadelphia organisation this week suggest the situation is far from resolved. Union owner Jay Sugarman addressed the matter directly at a press conference, acknowledging that Tanner remains mid-process. "Ernst right now is still in the restorative process," Sugarman said. "We're going to wait to see how that plays out." Sugarman added that he had received reports suggesting Tanner was engaging with the process seriously, but indicated the club would not make any decisions about a potential return until it had received full information from both the league and the specialists overseeing his training.

When pushed on whether Tanner might return in a different capacity, Sugarman was measured. He called it "premature" to discuss any comeback before the results of the programme were known. Sugarman also noted that Tanner had always planned to return to Germany at the end of his contract year, meaning the window for any reinstatement — in whatever form — is narrowing fast.

MLS declined to comment on Tanner's current status. The Union did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Guardian.

Club in crisis on and off the pitch

The instability at boardroom level comes at the worst possible time for the Union on the field. The club sits rooted to the foot of the Eastern Conference and are enduring what has been described as one of the worst campaigns in franchise history. Head coach Bradley Carnell was dismissed last week as the club moved to arrest a historically poor run of results.

In the same week Carnell was sacked, the Union moved to fill the sporting director vacancy by promoting former academy director Jon Scheer into the role — a decision that effectively sidelines Tanner from the position he held, regardless of how the restorative training process concludes.

The irony is not lost on those who have followed the club closely. Tanner was instrumental in transforming Philadelphia into one of MLS's most admired operations, building an academy system that has since delivered multiple players to the United States squad for this summer's World Cup. The club was widely viewed as a model for franchises trying to compete without the financial firepower of the league's biggest spenders. That legacy now sits awkwardly alongside the allegations that prompted two separate league investigations.

What comes next

The Union return to action on 22 July, when they host New York Red Bulls. By that point, the club will be hoping to have drawn a line under the off-field turbulence — though whether Tanner's situation is resolved before then remains unclear. The market has already moved on in terms of the club's immediate football future, with Scheer now holding the reins. The question of what role, if any, Tanner might eventually play at the club looks increasingly academic as his contract year winds down.

  • Tanner suspended: Through 1 June by MLS following a second league investigation.
  • Training incomplete: Has reportedly not finished the restorative practices programme required before reinstatement.
  • Club moves on: Jon Scheer named sporting director; head coach Bradley Carnell sacked.
  • Next fixture: Philadelphia Union vs New York Red Bulls, 22 July.

Frequently asked

Why was Ernst Tanner suspended by MLS?
MLS suspended Tanner after a league investigation — its second into his conduct — found he had violated the league's policies and standards of professional conduct required of club and league leadership. The specific allegations substantiated by the inquiry were not made public by either MLS or the Union.
Has Philadelphia Union appointed a new sporting director?
Yes. The Union named Jon Scheer, the club's former academy director, as their new sporting director last week, alongside sacking head coach Bradley Carnell amid a historically poor start to the MLS season.
When do Philadelphia Union play next?
Philadelphia Union are due to return to action on 22 July against New York Red Bulls.