Vera Pauw worried about Brexit impact on WNL

Macdara Ferris reports from FAI HQ

The impact of Brexit on the Irish football has been highlighted in recent months with a number of teenagers in the men’s game moving to high profile clubs in continental Europe and Italy in particular.

As Brexit has shut the door on players moving before they are 18 years of age to clubs in the UK, three teenagers have signed for Serie A sides – Kevin Zefi (Inter Milan), Cathal Heffernan (AC Milan) and James Abankwah (Udinese).

Republic of Ireland women’s team manager Vera Pauw today spoke about the effect that Brexit is having on the domestic game women’s game in Ireland.

She named her squad from the upcoming Pinatar Cup in Spain, with just six of the 27 players called up set to start in the upcoming Women’s National League (WNL) season here in Ireland.

“Recently we have lost out of the WNL nine or ten players who would be in the (Ireland) squad,” said Pauw when asked by extratime.com about the balance in her squad of domestic players and those plying their trade elsewhere.

With the common travel area, Irish nationals over the age of 18 can move to work in the UK more readily than those elsewhere in the EU and professional clubs outside of Ireland also give Irish players an opportunity to play on a professional basis – a step above the situation in the WNL.

Training compensation for mens players that clubs received for out of contract players when they move before they are 23 is not available on the women's side of the game.

“The fact because of Brexit Irish players can be taken so easily is fantastic for the development of the individual players but at this moment I'm a bit worried about the development of the WNL. 

“We need to discuss that with the coaches and clubs next time we are together. We need to focus outside the national team and ensure the effect of Brexit doesn't hurt so much our development domestically.”

The Ireland boss was pleased to see the women’s game play a prominent part in the FAI strategy document that was launched this week. 

“Women's football has a very prominent place in the strategic document and we are very happy with that. The structure of women's football is complicated. We are added to a history of over 100 years of male football. That means we need to find our way in the best structure for women from six year old to the national team.”

Included in the document were key performances indicators for both the national team and the domestic game including:

·      Qualification for FIFA Women’s World Cup and/or Euro 2025

·      Consistent top 30 UEFA ranking (Ireland are currently ranked 31)

·      A second tier in the Women’s National League by 2025

“The focus on the WNL and creating the second league is fantastic. Now every single girl has something to aspire to. The fact that it is such a dominant place in the strategic plan gives us the boost to make the next step in all areas.”

Pauw names Pinatar Cup squad as preperations for crunch World Cup qualifier continue https://t.co/d5Wyq6irk4pic.twitter.com/2dc1B4vdqd

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) February 11, 2022