Spanish FA to take legal action against World Cup final player as Luis Rubiales accuses her of ‘lies’

The Spanish football federation has said it will take legal action against player Jenni Hermoso following her comments about its president Luis Rubiales.

In a statement in the early hours of Saturday morning, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) accused Ms Hermoso of spreading “lies” about whether she consented to a kiss from Mr Rubiales following Spain’s World Cup win against England last week.

“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,” it said.

“The RFEF and the President, given the seriousness of the content of the press release from the Futpro union, will initiate the corresponding legal actions.”

The comments came hours after Ms Hermoso released a statement through players’ union Futpro denying that she had consented to being kissed, or that she lifted Mr Rubiales’ feet off the ground as he has claimed.

The Spanish forward said “in no case did I seek to lift the president” while they embraced on the podium.

Ms Hermoso said she was “vulnerable” and “the victim of an aggression”, as she and the rest of the Spanish women’s team announced they will not play any further matches until the “federation leadership is removed”.

Mr Rubiales was suspended from the RFEF on Saturday after refusing to resign.

In a statement, Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee said he would be banned from “all football-related activities at national and international level” for an initial period of 90 days.

Mr Rubiales had refused to resign after kissing forward Ms Hermoso on the lips last week, in a move that has sparked international condemnation and threatened to overshadow Spain’s historic sporting win, which marks their first World Cup triumph.

He also grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture from the VIP section at the stadium, with Spain’s Queen Letizia and 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofia standing nearby.

At an extraordinary meeting of the Spanish football federation’s general assembly on Friday, the football chief claimed was the victim of a witch hunt by “false feminists” and repeated “I won’t resign” five times.

In the version of events Mr Rubiales gave to the assembly, he said Ms 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,” Mr Rubiales said.

He added that he would defend his honour in court against politicians, including two ministers who called his kiss an act of sexual violence.

The Spanish Government has no power to sack Mr Rubiales, but the head of the state-run Sports Council, Victor Francos, has said it will use a legal procedure in a sports tribunal.

“We want this to be a ‘Me Too’ of Spanish soccer, ” said Mr Francos.

Late on Friday night, England’s Lionesses released a statement supporting the Spanish players’ boycott.

“Unacceptable actions allowed to happen by a sexist and patriarchal organisation. Abuse is abuse and we have all seen the truth,” the England team posted on social media.

“The behaviour of those who think they are invincible must not be tolerated and people shouldn’t need convincing to take action against any form of harassment. We all stand with you, Jenni Hermoso and all players of the Spanish team.”

Ms Hermoso has insisted that the incident, which took place on the sidelines of the World Cup match following Spain’s win last Sunday, had initially left her in “shock” but she was now speaking out.

“I feel the need to denounce what happened because I believe that no person, in any work, sports or social environment, should be a victim of this type of non-consensual behaviour,” she said.

“I felt vulnerable and the victim of an aggression, an impulsive, chauvinistic act, out of place and without any consent on my part. Simply put, I was not respected.”