A group representing female footballers who have spoken out about alleged unwanted or inappropriate sexual advances from named FAI coaches in the 1990s have said in a statement that they want their pain "to be the next generation's gain."
The statement was issued through the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland in relation to an investigation which was conducted jointly by RTÉ Investigates and the Sunday Independent.
The programme, 'Girls in Green’ will be broadcast on RTÉ One Television at 9.30pm tonight. The issue is the subject of detailed reports in today’s Sunday Independent and on the Irish Independent website.
Read more: Female former players detail allegations about named FAI coaches
In their statement the former players say they hope the "systematic and calculated abuse" inflicted on them will never happen again.
"It is hard to express the feelings that have defined our lives over the last 25 years or so. For this whole time, we buried our emotions and thought we were the only ones" the statement says.
"We blamed ourselves and hid our shame from our family and friends. It is only in the last two years that our eyes have been opened..."
"Our pain will be the next generation’s gain," the statement from the women says.
"Women’s football has emerged from the shadows and we want to see it go from strength to strength. What we experienced should provide lessons for the future and we hope for the FAI, and all other sporting bodies in this country will take the appropriate steps to ensure it never occurs again in this country."
The women said they have left the matter in the hands of the authorities now and they asked for that process and their privacy to be respected.
They thanked the Sunday Independent and RTÉ Investigates reporters who uncovered the story and the PFAI for its support.
RTÉ Investigates - Girls in Green will be broadcast tonight on RTÉ One Television and on the RTÉ Player at 9:30pm.
