Vera Pauw has claimed that a member of staff at NWSL side Houston Dash threatened to “shoot me in the head” in a row over training times.
The Ireland manager made the sensational allegation as she was forced once again to defend herself against allegations of misconduct while in charge of the US.
The Athletic yesterday posted a lengthy article after speaking with seven people who were at the NWSL club during Pauw’s tenure in 2018.
They included three former members of staff and four ex-Dash players, all of whom spoke under the condition of anonymity.
Pauw was also interviewed for the article, which appeared just days before Ireland’s friendly against France and departure on Friday to Australia.
Several allegations were made against the World Cup-bound manager, many of which were listed late last year in a controversial NWSL report into alleged misconduct in the league.
But Pauw fired back with a shocking allegation of her own.
She told The Athletic that she received police protection after a row over her decision to move training sessions from morning to evening, to protect players from the intense daytime heat.
“He threatened to shoot me in the head as I was taking his beer night away,” she said.
The shooting threat claim appears to be backed up by a response to the website from former Houston Dash president Chris Canetti.
He said via email: “The organisation took internal disciplinary actions and other steps to directly deal with a situation regarding an employee.
“I am not aware of, nor do not recall, any external involvement in this situation.”
Pauw added that halfway through her only season in charge at Dash, she promised her husband Bert van Lingen, former assistant to Dick Advocaat, that she would not extend her stay.
She said: “After five days (of him visiting Houston), he said, ‘Vera, I’m going home and I’m taking you with me because I do not accept the abuse you are getting here. I cannot watch this anymore’.
“I said, ‘I’m not going to leave them now, I’m finishing the season’.”
The FAI were quick to reiterate their support of Pauw in the wake of The Athletic article, which included two allegations of physical aggression.
There were also repeats of allegations made in last December’s controversial NWSL report into alleged misconduct in the league.
They included claims of controlling behaviour and comments about players’ size, weight and what they were eating.
In a brief statement, the Association said: “The FAI is fully focused on supporting Vera and the Women’s team as they continue their preparation for their first World Cup in Australia and we will not be making any further comment on this article.”
Pauw responded to last December’s NWSL report by teaming up with renowned lawyer Thomas Newkirk.
He is working with around 220 female coaches who have faced complaints about their methods.
When asked by The Athletic about a claim that she grabbed a staff member ‘around the neck or collarbone area’ at half-time during an away game, Pauw gave her version of events.
She said that two players were “verbally exploding” and that the staff member had wanted to intervene.
Pauw added: “I stopped her. I said, ‘Stop, sit down, calm down everybody’. That is my job. I never pulled the collar. I maybe put a hand on the shoulder - could be.
“It is absolutely untrue to say it in this way.”
Pauw also denied that she praised a player for weight-loss, in response to an allegation that her comments regarding food and exercise led to one player becoming physically unable to play football.
“I did my job to get players fit. I give feedback to a player who’s getting fitter and it’s turned into that I am telling her it’s okay that she lost weight.”
