Luis Rubiales reportedly sends video to FIFA to 'prove' the kiss with Jennifer Hermoso was consensual.
A video has surfaced online showing the Spanish women's national team record goalscorer Jennifer Hermoso seemingly discussing the president of the federation, Luis Rubiales, kissing her during the medal ceremony of the Women's World Cup final in a jovial with her teammates.
What has happened?
Spain, the country whose football he heads, had won the tournament, and during the distribution of medals, he was seen planting a kiss on Hermoso's lips.
The player released a statement denouncing Rubiales and revealing that the kiss was non-consensual.
The administrator was pressured to resign, but he insisted on staying in the role, claiming the act was mutual and that he obtained consent from the former Barcelona star.
He has since been provisionally suspended by FIFA, who are now currently investigating him, with the possibility of a lengthy ban hanging over his head.
Video surfaces of Hermoso discussing the kiss
A Spanish publication, El Espanol, released a video last night, claiming Rubiales presented it to FIFA in his defence.
The video showed the Spanish women's national team players on a bus after their triumph, talking about the kiss in a jovial manner.
The video also showed them chanting "Beso, Beso, Beso" at some point, which means kiss in Spanish.
Also, when Rubiales entered the shot, the players chanted "Presi, Presi, Presi."
It is, however, important to note that the players were fresh world champions at that point, were in ecstasy, and probably had not processed what had happened.
Hermoso alluded to this much in her statement, where she explained that she did not release it earlier because she was occupied in the headspace of being a world champion.
An excerpt from her statement says: "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 being able to celebrate the historic achievement I accomplished with my teammates.
"That's why, in that moment, I communicated with the RFEF... and the same with media and people I trust, that I would not be releasing an individual statement nor a joint statement about the matter, as I understood that, by doing it, I would take away the spotlight from a very special moment for my teammates and me.
She has also received full backing from her teammates, who have all taken themselves out of national team contention until solutions are found, which includes Rubiales's resignation.
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