Spanish FA accuses Jenni Hermoso of 'lying' over World Cup kiss consent
26.08.2023 - 08:59
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Jenni Hermoso, the World Cup-winning Spain player who said she ‘did not consent’ to a kiss with Spanish FA (RFEF) President Luis Rubiales, has been accused of lying by the organisation.
In what has been a tumultuous week for Spanish football, Mr Rubiales faced huge pressure to resign from his post, but instead organised a press conference to tell footballing figures that he will not do so. It triggered the Spanish government to take Mr Rubiales to a tribunal, and FIFA has also opened disciplinary proceedings against him on Thursday (August 24).
Yesterday, Ms Hermoso said that she ‘did not consent’ to the kiss when she collected her medal in a statement released via the players’ trade union, Futpro. This morning (August 26), the RFEF says ‘ it will take legal action over’ those comments, according to BBC Sport.
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"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 organisation 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."
It is less than a week since Spain’s women reached footballing immortality by beating England 1-0 in the World Cup final in Sydney - but the headlines have instead been dominated by one man.
“I want to make it clear that at no time did the conversation to which Mr Rubiales refers to in his address take place, and above all, was his kiss ever consensual. I want to reiterate as I did before that I did not like this incident,” Ms Hermoso said in a statement.
In the fall-out, 81