After 35 years, the Ireland captain opened up about a dark time during his career.
Vera Bao, 59, says she was sexually assaulted by three KNVB employees.
“Even those close to me didn’t know about the rape.”she writes Twitter.
Vera Pau has had a long career with the national team as a player. Between 1984 and 1998, she represented the Dutch national team.
She now talks about the abuse she experienced during her career. Via social media, Pau told that an employee of the Dutch Football Association raped her while she was active as a player.
“For 35 years, I’ve kept a secret to the world, to my family, to my teammates, the players, my teammates – and I can now accept it – to myself.”she writes on Twitter.
“My story is real and true”
Additionally, she wrote that two other union officials sexually exploited her.
“Even those close to me did not know that I was raped by a prominent footballer when I was a young player. Later I was sexually abused by two other men”Peacock scriber.
Today she is the captain of the Irish women’s national team and the Football Association of Ireland recently released a statement in support of Pauw. The 59-year-old believes she tried to take the case forward in the Netherlands – with no result.
Believe me, my story is real and true. I understand that the spotlight will be on me now when I go out with her, but I hope that other young footballers and leaders, who have gone through something similar that I have been affected by, will feel brave enough to step forward and share their experience.”Peacock scriber.
Union: ‘He should have done things differently’
Vera Bao also wrote that she had submitted five reports to the KNVB (Dutch Football Association) and reported the sexual assault to Dutch police.
KNVB admits it did not act fast enough when Pauw filed a report in 2011. An independent investigation has been launched to move the matter forward.
“This investigation showed that KNVB should have done some things differently. Unfortunately, Vera has been subjected to several wrong judgments and hurtful comments by former employees.”The Dutch Federation announced in a statement to Reuters.
The union is now investigating whether Pauw should be compensated with some form of compensation.
Defends: “A thousand percent”
The man who has been targeted for rape in the Dutch media is former coach Pete Potter. He has been to several Dutch clubs and was also a scout for Southampton ten years ago.
– If I hurt someone, I am very sorry. But what I’m hearing now… that simply cannot be true. This is not how it was created. My family knows it, my friends and acquaintances know it. Potter says I’m totally shocked.
However, he admits that he had an affair with Vera Pauw.
– I regret it started. That wasn’t smart and made my wife sad. A few weeks later, I ended the deal on my own initiative. I chose my family, and I’m very happy with it even today.
He says he doesn’t remember much and that “old memories can live their lives”.
– But I know one thing for a thousand percent certainty: nothing happens without mutual consent, Potter tells AD.