Republic of Ireland Women's manager Vera Pauw has refuted all allegations made to her in the recent NWSL/NWSLPA report.
The allegations date back to her time at Houston Dash in 2018 in the National Women's Soccer League in the USA.
In a report published this Wednesday, it is alleged that Pauw made concerning comments to her players over their weight and trying to influence their diets. Pauw has written a statement to the investigation committee denying the allegations against her.
"An Insult To My Personal Values"
She has since released a public statement today, stating that the suggestions that she would body shame anyone is a insult to her personal values.
To suggest I would body shame any human being, footballer or not, is an insult to my personal values and to my behaviour as coach and I cannot allow this claim to go unchallenged.
Also in the statement, she refuted every allegation made about her during her time at Houston Dash. She stated that player welfare has been utterly important to her during her managerial career.
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I want to refute every allegation made against me from my time at Houston Dash. Player welfare has always been of the upmost importance to me throughout my career. Nutrition is a hugely important aspect of professional football and my advice to players has always been to look after their nutritional needs and their health - and to always seek advice of medical experts.
The 59-year-old added that she'll continue to fight for her claims and that she is extremely frustrated to be attacked in such a matter.
I will continue to defend myself against all these claims. I have spent my entire career fighting for my players and now I must fight for myself. I am extremely frustrated that I have been targeted in such a disappointing manner. I cannot allow my name to be attached to such false accusations.
This has been such an incredible year with so many personal highs & lows!
Thank you to those who believe in the truth and support me. pic.twitter.com/px5xF5mH6K— Vera Pauw (@verapauw) December 16, 2022
"Absolute nonsense" - Vera Pauw
The Republic of Ireland manager held a press conference today at the FAI headquarters in Abbotstown at 2pm. Speaking to the media present, Pauw stated that it was "absolute nonsense" that she commentated on any of her player's weight.
Vera Pauw is holding a press conference to address the allegations made against her in a report into misconduct among soccer coaches in America.
Pauw says it’s “absolute nonsense” that she commented on players weight. pic.twitter.com/ibnSlSXgG3— Nathan Murphy (@nathanmurf) December 16, 2022
She also said that she is extremely angry that it is alleged that she did not co-operate with the investigation.
An anger in me is that they said I did not co-operate. Where as the normal thing to record and talk about something that would influence the rest of my life, that you cannot record and they just pushed the button. And they make it as I was not the one to co-operate. I was the one that immediately react. I was the one who suggested to have a video call. I was the one to say look me in the face. I was the one to say I want to be honest and open to ask me anything.
Asked about a possible response to the allegations, Vera Pauw stated that a legal action is a possibility.
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