Spanish footballer Jennifer Hermoso said that she felt vulnerable as she was kissed by the country’s FA president Luis Rubiales after her team won the Women’s World Cup, The Guardian reported.

“I felt vulnerable and a victim of aggression, an impulsive act, sexist, out of place and without any type of consent from my part,” she said in her statement. “In short, I wasn’t respected.”

At that moment, Rubiales grabbed the forward Hermoso by the head and kissed her. On Friday, the country’s FA president refused to resign and claimed that Harmoso had said he could give her “a little peck”.

In the immediate aftermath of the event, the champion footballer denied Rubiales’s statement.

“I want to make clear that not in any moment did the conversation occur that Mr Luis Rubiales references, and much less that his kiss was consensual. In the same way I want to reiterate how I did in that moment that what happened was not enjoyable.”

In her statement, she expressed gratitude towards her family, friends, followers, and teammates for the victory of Spain and also termed the event that happened after winning the world tournament as an ‘unfortunate event’.

“I was asked to release a joint statement to relieve the pressure off the president, but in those moments, in my head, I only had to be able to celebrate the historic achievement I accomplished with my teammates.

I don’t want to interfere with the multiple ongoing legal procedures, I feel obligated to say that the words of Mr Luis Rubiales explaining the unfortunate event are categorically false and part of the manipulative culture he has created,“ Harmoso said.

Furthermore, she described the situation as shocking for her, “I feel the need to denounce this as I feel that no one, in no workspace, sporting or social, should be a victim to this time of nonconsensual behaviour.”

Hermoso added that despite her decision she had been under constant pressure to come out with some sort of statement that would justify the acts of Rubiales. “Not only that, but also, via different ways and different people, the RFEF has pressured my close circle (family, friends, teammates, etc.) so I would give a statement that had little or nothing to do with how I felt.”

“Overall, I want to restate the position that I have taken from the start, considering that I don’t have to support the person who has committed this action against my will, who didn’t respect me, in a historic moment for me and for women’s sport of this country.”

Government action

The government, which cannot sack Rubiales, will seek to have him suspended using a legal procedure before a sports tribunal, the head of the CSD, Victor Francos, told reporters.

“We want all this to be a ‘Me Too’ of Spanish soccer,” Francos said, adding that the CSD could suspend Rubiales during the investigation if the tribunal agrees.

If it can be proven that the kiss was non-consensual, Rubiales could even be tried under a sexual violence law introduced by the ruling Socialists last year.

Gender issues have become a prominent topic in Spain in recent years. Tens of thousands of women have taken part in street marches protesting sexual abuse and violence.

The coalition government has presided over legal reforms including equal pay, abortion, sex work and transgender rights.

“This is unacceptable. It’s over. We’re with you, teammate Jenni Hermoso,” fellow player Alexia Putellas said on X after Friday’s federation meeting.

Some male players also protested.

(With input from Reuters)