Vera Pauw perturbed by player release issue ahead of Women's World Cup

Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw has slammed a European Clubs' Association directive that players should only be released for international duty 10 days before the Women's World Cup begins.

The Women's World Cup takes place in Australia and New Zealand from 20 July to 20 August, and clubs have argued that players should be afforded rest beforehand, with a relatively compressed window for some players after the tournament until return to domestic action.

Pauw warned that this would not protect players, but put them in a situation she described as "very unsafe and dangerous".

FIFA's mandatory release date for players is 10 July.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, the Ireland boss said: "It came as a surprise. We were not consulted about it, we were not asked anything, and they came up with a statement that is not really wise because we have players who will not play for 11 weeks before the World Cup starts and they say we have to bring them in on 10 July because of injuries happening now in the clubs."

"What they have to say is that every single player should have two weeks off completely.

"Not 10 July because then we have 10 days until the start of the World Cup.

"If this is going to happen, you can put ambulances next to the pitch for all the ACL's that are going to hospital"

"The last group has 15 days to prepare, talking about fair play, that they don't know.

"But also players that haven't played for 11 weeks and then 10 days, jet lag, going to Australia, and them thinking that it's safe for players, then you don't know what you're talking about.

"They have not overseen the real situation. They just look at one country, probably England, because that's where the injuries were and they put out a statement on the basis of that.

"Not very