Vera Pauw has explained to the Irish media why the friendly between Ireland and Colombia was ended after 20 minutes on Friday.
Both teams, who were playing in a final warm-up game before their World Cup openers next week, had agreed to play each other in Brisbane.
However, after a number of robust challenges from Colombia's players and a challenge that sent Ireland midfielder Denise O'Sullivan to hospital, the game was ended.
Both Ireland and Colombia released statements on the incidents.
The FAI said, "The game became overly physical, and it was decided, following consultation with the match officials, to end the game."
Press release from the FAIWhile Colombia said, "Today's training between the Colombian Women's national team and Ireland was suspended because the Irish preferred not to continue playing when 23 minutes of the first half had already elapsed."
Republic of Ireland boss Pauw explained how the fiery contest ended without a conclusion.
"At first, there was a huge challenge on Ruesha [Littlejohn]," Pauw said to reporters.
"We ourselves as a team play within the rules of the game, a very tough-playing team. This was out of the rules of the game. It took minutes before the game started again. I was actually thinking, 'what is going on on that pitch, why do we not play?'
After this, the challenge on Ireland's O'Sullivan happened, and this is when Pauw decided that the game was going in a bad direction.
"But within two minutes, there was this challenge on Denise. So it was a build-up of, this is not going right, this is going really wrong. That challenge, she was in awful pain, of course, potentially a serious injury," she added.
"I went calmly to the bench of the opponent, it was just in front of them, and I asked the coach, 'I need your help, we all want to go to the World Cup, how do we calm this down?' And he only said one sentence, something like, 'it’s both sides'.
"He went back and did not take responsibility. Then the team manager came. I said that we all want to go to the World Cup, can you help me calm things down? And she said, 'it’s not intentional'. But also sat down. So I got no help from them, although they were calm, the bench of Colombia was very calm."
Pauw also went on to say that although Colombia did not instigate anything, they did little to help the growing tensions on the pitch. The Ireland manager also said that the Ireland players 'feared for their bodies' in Brisbane. After consultation with FAI director of football, Marc Canham, the game was then called off with 20 minutes gone.
"They did not instigate anything, I want to highlight that. Then it was developing on the pitch. Of course, the players were upset... for the first time since I'm coaching [them], they feared for their bodies.
🗣 "We do not fear any physical contact normally."
🗣 "The players feared for their bodies."
Vera Pauw explains why she felt the game vs. Colombia had to be abandoned following several serious challenges on Irish players | ☘
🗣 "This was out of the rules of the game." pic.twitter.com/CaHglRzXfY— Off The Ball (@offtheball) July 15, 2023
"I took them away, calmed everybody down, took them to the bench and said 'you stay here, we deal with this, of course I support you, but I'm going to discuss this with management' because calling off a game, you don't do that like that.
"Fortunately, [FAI director of football] Marc Canham had just arrived. We discussed it. He took charge of it, discussed it [over the phone] with the FAI, the CEO [Jonathan Hill], and his decision was in line with what I felt and what the players felt."
Pauw also confirmed that she was quite 'shocked' upon hearing Colombian centre-half Daniela Caracas' comments about the Irish team.
Caracas was videoed speaking to fans, saying the likes of 'They are little girls' and 'let them eat shit'.
"I’m sorry? Did they? To be honest, I’m a bit shocked hearing this," said Pauw. "Well, let’s say that they maybe were emotional too. That they walked off is not true. But the Colombian staff handled it really well.
Ireland's game against Australia will take place next Thursday. Kick-off is at 11 pm Irish time.
Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Defenders: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Áine O'Gorman (Shamrock Rovers), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Claire O'Riordan (Celtic), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Izzy Atkinson (West Ham United)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Sinead Farrelly (NJ/NY Gotham), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit), Abbie Larkin (Shamrock Rovers)Training Players: Sophie Whitehouse, Harriet Scott, Jamie Finn
FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 - Group BJuly 20 | Australia v Ireland, Stadium Australia, Sydney, KO 11:00 (Irish Time)July 26 | Canada v Ireland, Rectangular Stadium, Perth, KO 13:00 (Irish Time)July 31 | Ireland v Nigeria, Lang Park, Brisbane, KO 11:00 (Irish Time)
See More: 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Ireland, Vera Pauw
