Portland, Oregon/Chicago, Illinois - Two US Soccer team owners have decided to step aside after an investigative report found female players experienced sexual harassment from their coaches.

Portland Thorns' owner Merritt Paulson said in a statement on Tuesday evening that he was "removing myself effective today" from the team’s decision-making.

Paulson and at least two team executives were accused in the report commissioned by the US Soccer Federation of hiding their knowledge of abuse by a former Thorns coach, among other things.

Top executives Gavin Wilkinson and Mike Golub will also step aside, he said.

Soccer National Women's Soccer League scores landmark media rights deal

"I cannot apologize enough for our role in a gross systemic failure to protect player safety and the missteps we made in 2015. I am truly sorry," he said in the statement.

They were not the only ones to swiftly step aside.

Shortly after the announcement, Arnim Whisler, the owner of the Chicago Red Stars, said he would also step away from the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) board of governors and hand over operational control of the club to its executive team in Chicago.

In the report, Whisler was accused of dismissing complaints about abusive behavior within the team.

"I am so deeply sorry for what our players experienced during their time spent in Chicago," he said in a statement.

Soccer MLS chief blasts referees union after members reject tentative contract agreement

US women's team captain Becky Sauerbrunn said ahead of a game against England on Friday that any official found to have failed to protect players "should be gone."

"You have failed in your stewardship," she said.

The more than 150-page report published on Monday detailed numerous examples of inappropriate advances and emotional and physical abuse by coaches.

The independent commission that carried out the probe described the abuse and misconduct in the league as "systemic" and deeply rooted in US women's soccer, including its youth leagues.