Former Netherlands international Vera Pauw says she was sexually abused by three men employed within Dutch football when she was a player.
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 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 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 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.
"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 it had been 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 the report also showed it had failed to adequately respond to first signals relating to sexual abuse given by Pauw in 2011.
Australian Associated Press
