Spain's football federation has threatened legal action in response to comments made by top player Jenni Hermoso about a "kiss" scandal involving Luis Rubiales after a World Cup victory.
Rubiales, head of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has refused resignation requests after being accused of sharing an inappropriate celebratory kiss with Hermoso, a member of the Spanish women's team that has won the World Cup.
Is Rubiales the Victim?
In a statement released late on Friday, August 25, Hermoso and 80 other Spanish football players declared they would not participate in national team games so long as "the current leaders continue."
POLITICO said that in reaction to the players' declaration, RFEF issued a statement saying it would take all legal actions in defense of Rubiales. According to the statement, Rubiales provided a straightforward and understandable account of what happened.
Hermoso's alleged physical contact with Rubiales has sparked a new round of accusations and denials.
Translated in English, Hermoso is cited as stating, "I want to clarify that, as seen in the footage, I never consented to the kiss he gave me, and, of course, I never intended to lift the president in the air."
Her second accusation is highlighted in the RFEF statement, which also contains a sequence of images purportedly showing Hermoso picking up Rubiales off the ground. "The evidence is conclusive. Mr. President has not lied."
RFEF said the federation and Rubiales would provide evidence for every false claim that has been made by the athlete or on her behalf.
The kiss, which was broadcast live around the globe, and the larger allegations of sexism that it sparked were not immediately addressed in the RFEF statement.
After FIFA announced disciplinary action for his conduct as reported Thursday, August 24, including an incident in which he seemed to grasp his crotch forcefully during the game, Rubiales still refused to resign on Friday. Instead, he insisted he portrayed himself as the victim of false feminism and claimed that he had requested Hermoso's permission before giving her a "little kiss."
'Sexist, Out-Of-Place Act'
On Friday night, Hermoso released a second statement refuting the claims that an altercation had occurred. "I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out-of-place act without any consent on my part," she wrote on her social media account. She added that she had been pressured to speak out in support of Rubiales.
The Spanish government and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez are on Hermoso's and the athletes' side. After describing Rubiales's behavior as "shameful" and "unacceptable," Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Ribera told POLITICO that Rubiales should not be in office any longer and that the government will take all means necessary to force him out.
On Saturday, August 26, AP News reported that FIFA banned Rubiales from office until the outcome of an investigation by the disciplinary committee into the issue.
FIFA said that Rubiales would be suspended from all soccer-related activities for 90 days while disciplinary action has been initiated against him.
