Pauw could take legal action over report allegations

Republic of Ireland boss Vera Pauw said she will consider the possibility of legal action as she strongly denied all allegations made against her in a report by the US National Women's Soccer League [NWSL] that was published on Wednesday.

Pauw was named among several managers and coaches in a report by the US National Women's Soccer League that discovered widespread, ongoing misconduct in the NWSL.

The investigation unit received reports of ongoing misconduct at "more than half" of the NWSL clubs during the 14-month inquiry.

The report claimed Pauw - who was in charge at Houston Dash in 2018 - attempted to "exert excessive control" over her players' "eating habits" and that it was not in "best practice".

Players interviewed in the report claimed Pauw had negatively "affected a team-mate struggling with an eating disorder" and had criticised the appearance of players.

Pauw issued a statement on Friday denying all allegations made against her from her time at Houston Dash and describing them as "an insult to my personal values and to my behaviour as coach".

She later spoke to the media in a lengthy press conference at the FAI's headquarters in Abbotstown.

Pauw is deeply frustrated over suggestions she refused to cooperate with investigators and instead submitted a written letter denying the allegations.

"I was asked [by] a committee if I would like to participate into this inquiry," she said.

"I immediately reacted. Within five minutes they had a reaction, and I said 'I want to have it very, very quickly because I want to know what's going on and I want to know what I am accused of’."

"Until the moment of two days ago, I did not know what I was accused of."

Pauw claims that a video call was arranged but when she requested permission