Harvard University has cancelled the season of its men’s soccer team suddenly on Thursday. An university investigation discovered that a lewd online “scouting report” about female athletes had been created in 2012 which had been continuing into the current fall semester.

Drew Faust, Harvard president said that the decision had been taken after the university officials found that the “appalling actions of the 2012 men’s soccer team stood to have been more widespread across the team and have continued beyond 2012.”

At first, the ranking system had been related to the team of 2012. Faust in her statement said that she has been “deeply distressed” to know that the postings had continued.

The team has two more regular season games, including a matchup on Saturday against Columbia, and NCAA tournament berth, which had been at stake.

Scalise wrote, that Harvard athletics had no tolerance for this type of behavior, the student newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, reported about the ranking scandal last week.”

But the hopes had been dashed on Thursday, when Robert Scalise, Harvard athletic director finalised the decision of cancelling the remainder of the season, and playoff hopes.

Scalise said that the athletics department should work with the university’s department of Sexual Assault and Response to “educate the members of men’s soccer team, and all the student athletes about the seriousness of these behaviors and the general standard of respect and conduct that is expected.”

By Prakriti Neogi