The Football Association of Ireland will prepare a strong legal defence against gender discrimination allegations by former Republic of Ireland women's head coach Eileen Gleeson. Gleeson alleges she and her backroom staff were treated unfairly because of their gender after stepping in as interim manager in August 2023 and being appointed permanent manager in December 2023. Her legal team alleges discrimination over pay and the non-renewal of her contract after failing to qualify for Euro 2025, and contends the senior women's team lacked the same travel, security, medical and performance support as the men's team. The FAI refutes the claims, cites ongoing legal proceedings and states it has invested in women's and girls' football and will continue to improve standards.
On Sunday, a report in the Irish Independent, external said that court documents showed Gleeson has accused the governing body of treating her and her backroom staff unfairly because of their gender. The article stated that in the court documents, Gleeson, who was working as the FAI's head of women and girls' football when she was asked to take over from Vera Pauw in August 2023, felt compelled to step in as interim boss.
She was appointed as permanent manager in December 2023 but according to her legal team, felt she was discriminated against in terms of her pay and her exit from the role in December last year when her contract was not renewed after faililng to qualify for Euro 2025. Gleeson's legal team also allege that the senior women's team did not have the same travel, security, medical and performance support afforded to the men's team.
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