The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has announced it is taking legal action against Jenni Hermoso after the player claimed she did not consent to the kiss from president Luis Rubiales, which has overshadowed their World Cup triumph.
Rubiales planted a kiss on Hermoso's lips in the immediate aftermath of Spain's win over England in last Sunday's World Cup final as the players went up to collect their medals and lift the trophy. Hermoso was quoted after the match as saying she "did not enjoy" Rubiales' actions and later called in representatives from the FUTPRO union, who have called for Rubiales' "unacceptable conduct" to "not go unpunished".
Rubiales issued a grovelling apology but insisted there were "no bad intentions" as he refused to step down in response to growing calls for him to resign from his post. Now the RFEF are backing their president as they published a fresh statement which claims his version of events has been "corroborated by internal records" and "are entirely accurate and truthful".
READ MORE: Spain's Women's World Cup winners won't play until Luis Rubiales 'removed'
"The RFEF announces its intention to take any necessary legal actions in defense of the honorability of the President of the RFEF," their statement reads. "He has clearly and simply explained how the events, which have become a source of controversy and ridicule by wide sectors of society against him, transpired.
"The note states (quoting attributed to Ms. Jennifer Hermoso): 'I want to clarify that, as seen in the images, I never consented to the kiss he planted on me, and of course, I never attempted to lift the president. I will not tolerate my word being doubted, and even less so for words I never uttered.'
"In a state governed by the rule of law, as the President has advocated, opinions are countered with facts and evidence, and falsehoods are challenged in the courts.
"The President of the RFEF has sought to handle this matter with the utmost respect for the players and institutions, and only when an insurmountable red line was crossed did he publicly provide his version of the events."
The RFEF claim they have made efforts to contact Hermoso for her version of events but have not yet received a response. Their statement appears to focus more on the embrace between Hermoso and Rubiales prior to the kiss taking place, rather than the kiss itself.
It then breaks down different stages of the incident in question with a brief description, in which they note that Hermoso used an "exertion of force" to lift Rubiales off the ground.
"The President's feet are clearly and conspicuously off the ground due to the force applied by the player," it reads, before later adding: "The evidence is conclusive. The President has not lied."
The RFEF's official website also carries a series of images of Hermoso and Rubiales embracing after the match to support their statement. "The RFEF and the President will demonstrate each falsehood that is spread, whether by someone on behalf of the player or, if necessary, by the player herself," their statement added.
"Given the gravity of the content in the press release by the Futpro union, the RFEF and the President will initiate the appropriate legal actions."
Source: Read Full Article