Last month, former Fulham women’s coach Gauthe Haugeness told the BBC that special precautions were being taken to protect female players from Al-Fayed.
Hougens, who led the team from 2001 to 2003, said staff members noticed that the late billionaire “had a thing for young blonde girls.”
Gibbons was reportedly furious at these comments.
Speaking to the BBC on Friday, Ms Haugenes, a Norwegian, said she understood her frustration.
“All I can say is that I am truly sorry for saying something that added fuel to the fire.Honestly, I thought I was protecting the players.”
“I knew he liked Ronnie because all the girls were joking about it, but I thought he was an old man and she was a young woman. I was 30 at the time, so I didn’t think people his age were thinking about Ronnie’s sex.
“Maybe I was naive. Maybe the language barrier prevented me from catching the details of their banter.”
He added that he had no idea she had been asked to go to Harrods.
When asked if club staff could have done more, they said it was difficult to know what they could have done differently.
“But there should have been a system to pick up something like that,” he said. “She went there before I became manager.”
He added, “It’s sad to hear that she went through something like that as a professional player.”
The CEO of Women in Football (WIF) told the BBC there were “significant challenges” in the women’s football environment.
Yvonne Harrison said: “This highlights the pervasiveness of power in the balance and the risks to women in the industry on and off the pitch.”
“It’s really important for the players that they are protected, that they are protected and above all that their voices are heard, and that goes for them off the pitch as well.”
Justice for Harrods Survivors said the abuse Mr Gibbons suffered from Al-Fayed was “another horrific example of horrific abuse aided and abetted by the business he owns”.
It added: “We salute our client’s courage and are proud to stand up for Ronnie and the people of Frum who seek justice. No matter where the abuse took place or who committed it, we I will do whatever I can to put a lid on the abuse,” he added. Perpetrated by all those who made Al-Fayed’s abominable acts possible. ”
A Harrods spokesperson said it was “absolutely appalled” by the allegations of abuse by Mr Al Fayed.
“These are the acts of individuals seeking to abuse their power wherever they operate, and we condemn them in the strongest terms.
“We also acknowledge that we have failed his victims during this time, and for this we sincerely apologize.”
