59-year-old female football pioneer Vera Baufe, the Dutch coach who runs Ireland’s women’s national team, said she was raped and sexually assaulted by three men working in her country when she was a young player.
“For 35 years, I’ve kept this a secret from the rest of the world, my family, my teammates, my players, and even those close to me don’t know regarding this rape committed by an important football official when I was a young player,” the woman in the Netherlands wrote on Twitter. He was later attacked by two other men, all three of whom were working in Dutch football at the time.
“Only those I trust knew before today regarding the systematic sexual abuse, abuse of power, bullying, intimidation and isolation that I faced as a player and coach of the national team in Dutch football,” added Bauff, who was awarded an honorary award by the Dutch Football Association in 2017.
“Over the past few years, I have tried to ensure that this case should be investigated in a fair and equitable manner by the Dutch football authorities but to no avail, as some people have preferred not to publicize this rape and sexual assault rather than give me the support I need,” she wrote.
Bauff announced that she had filed a complaint with the Dutch police, “I can no longer remain silent,” while the Dutch Football Association responded, apologizing, “It is unacceptable that you do not benefit from a safe working environment.”