Former Netherlands player Pauw reveals sexual abuse
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 [July 02, 2022] (Reuters)
- Former Netherlands international Vera
Pauw said on Friday she was sexually abused by three men employed
within Dutch football when she was a player, which she has recently
reported to the police feeling that she got no support from the
Dutch FA (KNVB).
The 59-year-old Pauw, who is now the Ireland women's national team
coach, played for the Netherlands from 1984-1998. She then began her
coaching career with Scotland women's team, moving to coach the
Netherlands in 2004 for six years.
"For 35 years I have kept a secret from the world, from my family,
from my team mates... and, I can now accept, from myself," Pauw
wrote in a statement published
https://twitter.com/verapauw/status/
1542947493239033858 on Twitter.
"Even those closest to me have not known of the rape I endured at
the hands of a prominent football official when I was a young
player. Later two sexual assaults by two other men were added to
this record."
All three men were employed within Dutch football at the time of the
incidents, Pauw said.
Pauw added that only those she trusted have known of the "systematic
sexual abuse, abuse of power, bullying, intimidation, isolation and
framing" she was exposed to as a player and coach in Dutch football.
"For the past number of years I have tried to have my case heard in
a fair and just manner by the football authorities in the
Netherlands but to no avail," Pauw said.
"I can no longer share the silence."
Pauw said she made five reports to the Dutch FA and has recently
reported her rape and sexual assaults to the Dutch police.
"That already feels like the beginning of the end for me but I know
there will be more heartache to come.
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Netherlands coach Vera Pauw Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Henry
Browne/File Photo
"But (I) also hope that other young footballers and
coaches who were exposed to anything like (what) I suffered will now
feel brave enough to come forward and share their stories."
The Dutch FA said in a statement sent to Reuters that it was told by
Pauw of her experiences last year, and together with her had decided
to start an independent investigation.
"This investigation has shown that the KNVB should have done a
number of things differently. Sadly, Vera in the past has been
confronted with a number of errors of judgement and harmful remarks
by (former) employees," it said.
The KNVB added that the report also showed it had failed to
adequately respond to first signals relating to sexual abuse given
by Pauw in 2011.
However, according to the KNVB, during last year's investigation
Pauw had made it clear she did not want to follow up on the
allegations about sexual abuse.
"We respected that choice. Our intention was to protect Vera", the
KNVB said. "But we should have chosen a different path."
The KNVB said it would try to implement the recommendations given in
the report and would try to work out a form of compensation for Pauw.
(Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk; Additional reporting by
Bart Meijer in Amsterdam; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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