A player accused of using a racial slur in an incident that prematurely ended Hartford Athletic‘s game against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC last Saturday has issued a statement denying that he ever used racially insensitive language.
Danny Griffin, who grew up in Wethersfield and went to Wethersfield High, was accused of using the slur after a scuffle with Athletic player Marlon Hairston.
The incident occurred in stoppage time in the second half, with Pittsburgh leading 2-1. After a long pause and conversations with officials, Hartford players and coaches decided not to continue with the game.
“Unfortunately due to an on field verbal exchange between a Pittsburgh and Hartford Athletic player, Hartford Athletic players and technical staff did not feel comfortable proceeding with the match,” the club said in a statement after the game.
The USL conducted an investigation into the matter. Griffin released a statement Thursday.
“The events at the end of last Saturday’s match vs Hartford were deeply stressful. In response, I want to make it absolutely clear: I did not use a racial slur at any point during the match, nor have I at any other point in my life,” Griffin said.
“This accusation is completely false and quire harmful, in may ways. I stand strongly against racism (and any other form of discrimination) and would never engage in such behavior. There is no place for it in our society and certainly not on the soccer field. Respect, integrity, and inclusion are core values that I believe in, both on and off the field.
This accusation has done extreme harm and damage to my reputation and is deeply painful.
I understand that in the heat of competition, emotions can run high and words are exchanged. But the fact remains: I did not say what I’ve been accused of. I deserved the benefit of the doubt, yet instead, I was quickly condemned publicly by the opposing club, their fans and by media outlets without any evidence.
To that end, I’ve fully cooperated with the league’s review and even went a step further by voluntarily taking a professional, licensed polygraph exam. The results confirmed what I already knew, that I did not use a racial slur. I hope this helps bring clarity and allows everyone to move forward.
I am grateful for the continued support of my family, teammates, coaches, the entire Riverhounds organization, the many players around the league, and anyone else who has reached out who knows my true character. I remain focused on representing all of them, the community and the Riverhounds organization with the highest standards of professionalism and respect.”
— Danny Griffin (@DannyGriffin04) September 25, 2025
Pittsburgh also released a statement, standing by Griffin and divulging that he took a polygraph test as part of the USL’s investigation into the incident.
“Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC stands firmly with Danny Griffin following the events at the end of last Saturday’s match against Hartford. We know his character, we know his values, and we fully support the statement he has released today. We are unequivocal in our position: He did not use a racial slur.
As a club, we condemn racism in every form. There is no place for it in soccer, in our community or in our society. Our commitment to diversity and respect is core to who we are and what we represent, on and off the field. We support accountability in the game, but we also believe in fairness and truth. What has unfolded in recent days has unfairly damaged the reputation of our player and our entire organization. Danny was publicly condemned without evidence by the opposing club, those accusations were amplified by segments of the media, and he was subjected to immediate judgement before the facts were known. These actions have harmed Danny, our club and the progress we are making to grow the game of soccer in Pittsburgh at a pivotal moment in our history.
We have supported fully the league’s review process, and Danny went above and beyond by voluntarily undergoing and sharing the results of a professional, licensed polygraph exam that confirmed what he has maintained from the start:
No racial slur was used. The facts are clear, and we expect they will be respected.
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds will always defend the values of integrity and fairness. We remain focused on representing our city, our fans and the sport at the highest standard, while ensuring our players, staff and supporters are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.”
Club statement in support of Danny Griffin. pic.twitter.com/lXxStvxUyn
— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) September 25, 2025
Hartford Athletic responded on social media with the words: “We stand together.” The club also posted a black-and-white version of its logo and changed its header on X to a graphic with a fist that is often used to represent Black Lives Matter.
We stand together. pic.twitter.com/vY7x5o6AUO
— Hartford Athletic (@hfdathletic) September 25, 2025
Hartford, in fifth place in the USL East standings, plays at Colorado on Saturday.
Originally Published: September 25, 2025 at 9:41 PM EDT
