Hermoso and Rubiales kissing
The embattled Spanish football chief, Luis Rubiales, accused by the Women World Cup winner, Jenni Hermoso, of unconsented kissing, has accused the player of lying by saying she did not consent to the kissing.
Rubiales, who used his federation to make the accusation against the Spanish Women World Cup winner, also threatened legal action to defend himself, Sky News reports.
It was reported that the latest defiant statement from the 46-year-old Rubiales came in the early hours of Saturday amid mounting pressure from within Spanish football and the government for him to resign.
Rubiales, who grabbed Hermoso and kissed her on the lips during the awards ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England on Sunday in Sydney, Australia, was expected to resign his position on Friday before he went on the attack against his accusers in a speech at a federation assembly.
His accusation has reportedly sparked an outcry from Hermoso and her teammates who have vowed not to play for their country again – days after winning the World Cup for the first time.
The 33-year-old forward and key contributor to Spain’s victory in a statement on Friday night said that “in no moment” did she consent to the kiss by Rubiales but the Spanish football federation’s lengthy statement was said to have shown a series of images claiming to be Hermoso encouraging being lifted by Rubiales.
The statement said that “Mr President’s feet are ostensibly lifted from the ground as a result of the player’s action.
“The tests are conclusive. Mr President has not lied.
“The RFEF and Mr President will demonstrate each of the lies that are spread either by someone on behalf of the player or, if applicable, by the player herself.”
The statement threatened legal action, saying that playing for the national team “is an obligation for all members of the federation if they are called up”.
The federation said it regretted the row was taking away from the World Cup success it wanted to celebrate.
“The RFEF regrets that after a sporting success as extraordinary as the one that occurred in the World Cup, it cannot be celebrated as the situation and success deserves for completely extra-sporting reasons,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, FIFA was said to have started a case against Rubiales but UEFA – of which he is a 250,000 euro a year vice president – has yet to comment.
Hermoso said she was “vulnerable” and “the victim of an aggression”, as she and the rest of the Spain team revealed they will not play any further matches until the “federation leadership is removed”.
A total of 56 players, including all of the 23-strong World Cup-winning squad, signed the joint statement after Mr Rubiales refused to resign following his controversial kiss at the final.
The Spanish government has started legal action in a bid to suspend Mr Rubiales from his post – and the head of Spain’s women’s football committee has quit his role.
However, Rubiales has insisted that “I won’t resign,” as he claimed the kiss was “mutual” and “with consent” at a meeting of the Spanish football federation’s general assembly on Friday.
Rubiales added that he was the victim of a witch hunt by “false feminists” after rapidly repeating “I won’t resign” five times.
In the version of events Rubiales gave to the assembly, he said Hermoso had lifted him up in celebration and he asked her for “a little kiss?” and she said yes.
“The kiss was the same I could give one of my daughters,” Rubiales said.
The Spanish football chief has said that he would defend his honour in court against politicians, including two ministers, who called his kiss an act of sexual violence.
