Vera Pauw, the Republic of Ireland manager, has criticized a directive issued by the European Clubs' Association that states players should only be released for international duty 10 days before the Women's World Cup begins.
Pauw warned that this would put players in an "unsafe and dangerous" situation, rather than protect them.
The FIFA mandatory release date for players is 10 July, but the clubs body has argued that players should be given rest beforehand, considering the relatively compressed window for some players after the tournament until return to domestic action.
Pauw argued that every player should have two weeks off completely, rather than being brought in on 10 July, which would leave players with only 10 days until the start of the World Cup.
"To put is into that position is not really wise, it's not protecting the players, it's actually putting the players in a very unsafe and dangerous situation.
"If this is going to happen, you can put ambulances next to the pitch for all the ACLs that are going to hospital."
She also added that clubs' input could derail her meticulous planning and put players at risk.
Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw has slammed a European Clubs' Association directive that players should only be released for international duty 10 days before the Women's World Cup begins. pic.twitter.com/c7fs4Si9E9
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) May 10, 2023
"It came as a surprise. We were not consulted about it, we were not asked anything, and they came up with a statement that is not really wise because we have players who will not play for 11 weeks before the World Cup starts and they say we have to bring them in on 10 July because of injuries happening now in the clubs," said the Ireland boss to RTE Sport.
"What they have to say is that every single player should have two weeks off completely.
"[But it shouldn't be] 10 July because then we have 10 days until the start of the World Cup. "If this is going to happen, you can put ambulances next to the pitch for all the ACLs that are going to hospital"
"The last group has 15 days to prepare, talking about fair play, that they don't know.
"But also players that haven't played for 11 weeks and then 10 days, jet lag, going to Australia, and them thinking that it's safe for players, then you don't know what you're talking about.
"They have not overseen the real situation. They just look at one country, probably England, because that's where the injuries were and they put out a statement on the basis of that.
"Not very wise, they should have consulted experts before saying something like that."
Ireland faces France before heading to Australia to play in the World Cup against co-hosts Australia, Canada, and Nigeria.
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