Vera Pauw claims FAI undermined her authority at World Cup

Vera Pauw, the former Republic of Ireland manager, has expanded on her criticism of the FAI executive, saying that their actions undermined her authority at the World Cup.

“People in Ireland need to know what happened,” Pauw told RTÉ.

The Dutch woman claims that before and during the tournament in Australia this summer the association’s CEO Jonathan Hill and director of football Marc Canham interfered in “technical football matters”.

Hill will not publicly respond to Pauw until after the Ireland men’s international window but it is understood that he will strongly dispute the accusation of interference. Stephen Kenny’s side face France in a European Championship qualifier in Paris next Thursday before the Netherlands come to Dublin on Sunday week.

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The Irish Times can confirm that Hill visited the team hotel in Castleknock after Pauw contributed to a 7,000-word report by the Athletic, that was published on July 2nd, where she denied accusations of “bullying and belittlement” during the 2018 season coaching the Houston Dash.

Seemingly, Hill wanted to check on the wellbeing of players and staff.

“I asked the CEO to stop engaging with people and he said he had a right to do so,” Pauw continued.

[ Vera Pauw accuses FAI of reneging on contract pledge and undermining her at World Cup ]

She has also accused one of her coaching staff of disloyalty. “I found out that behind my back even my staff was talking bad about the players, talking bad about me to players,” she continued.

Earlier this year, the FAI suggested to Pauw that she needs to focus on preparation for the World Cup rather than her legal dispute with the National Women’s Soccer League in America. Following an investigation, last January the 60-year-old was banned from coaching in the US. Pauw denies any wrongdoing.

She also claims that the FAI’s refusal to offer her a two-year contract extension before the World Cup damaged her future career prospects as she turned down two coaching offers, thinking she would be Ireland manager up until the 2025 European Championships in Switzerland.

Pauw states that the FAI, under Hill’s direction, reneged on a promise to offer a new contract.

“If you don’t want [to give a new contract], I would have accepted and understood it.”

Last Tuesday the board of directors voted to cut ties with the first manager to guide the Ireland women’s team to a major tournament.

Two days before Ireland travelled to the World Cup, Irish captain Katie McCabe described the Athletic article as a “real negative distraction”. Following Ireland’s last World Cup match, a nil-all draw with Nigeria in Brisbane, Pauw stated that McCabe “is not the coach”. She now claims that her relationship with the Arsenal winger is “absolutely fine”.

“I’ve seen a lot on Twitter regarding Katie. I hope that stops now. It’s a young woman that made a mistake. I’ve made mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes. She should not be held accountable. I love Katie. Without spark, there is no fire. And without fire, there is no performance. Katie gives us so much. No hard feelings to her at all.

“The bond between me and the players was so good,” said Pauw. “There was space for friction and a space for joy and a space for laughter. But I just felt the players just drifting away in their looks to me. Then I found out behind my back all the things that were happening.”

Canham delivered a report on the entire World Cup campaign to the FAI board. It is believed that the report described Pauw’s coaching methods as overly controlling.

“That review was done by the technical director [Canham]. He’s not trained to make reviews and he was part of the process,” said Pauw. “You need someone independent to make a review with staff members.”

Pauw claimed that FAI “management” asked in December 2022 if she had been “Gardà vetted”. Also, after the 2-1 loss to Canada in July, she said she was asked by “management” if she would “let the subs play” against Nigeria.

“That would never be asked to Pep Guardiola or Dick Advocaat or Louis van Gaal or Stephen Kenny,” Pauw said. “And then I was told what I had to say about the contract.

“I am an independent woman and I have never harmed the FAI. If anything, I have safeguarded the FAI.

“I would never expose people so why would I say what is not true?

“That would never happen with a male coach.”