Houston Dash players allege Vera Pauw shamed them about their weight as club apologizes for wrongdoing

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US club Houston Dash have apologized to current and former players affected by Ireland manager Vera Pauw’s alleged misconduct while in charge.

A report from the National Womens Soccer League and the NWSL Players Association was released on Wednesday which investigated allegations of abuse and mistreatment of players at several clubs.

The 128-page report includes allegations by Houston Dash players against Pauw during his one-season stint at the club, which ended in September 2018. The Irish boss denied the allegations.

The report alleges that Pauw criticized the players for their weight and appearance, saying some were too big. Players also claimed that Pauw seemed to want to control players’ diets and exercise regimes, even when his weight loss guidelines were inconsistent with sports medicine best practices.

Players also reported that Pauw’s behavior negatively affected a teammate who was struggling with an eating disorder at the time.

The report says Pauw appeared but refused to cooperate when questioned by the joint investigation team, but provided a written denial of the allegations against her.

Other allegations have been made against current Houston Dashs coach James Clarkson. The 50-year-old was suspended by the club last April pending the outcome of the investigation, and Houston has since confirmed that he will not be renewing his contract when it expires this month.

We apologize to the players, current and former, who were misconducted by James Clarkson and 2018 head coach Vera Pauw, Houston Dash said in a statement.

The Houston Dash salutes the courage of the players and staff who participated in the joint investigation and the important work of the NWSL and NWSLPA Joint Investigation Team over the past 14 months.

Our vision to build and sustain a culture of excellence on and off the pitch begins with cultivating a respectful and healthy work environment. Our priority is to ensure that our staff and policies reflect this directive.

In partnership with the NWSL, NWSLPA, NWSL Board of Governors and club leadership, we will continue to implement appropriate protocols and preventative measures consistent with league guidelines and that prioritize the safety of all members of our organization. to address the systemic reform that our sport needs. Together with Dash players, staff, fans and partners, we will work together for a better future.

The FAI did not respond when contacted for comment.

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