![](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/GettyImages-1627288470.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The England Women\u2019s football team have released a statement in support of their Spanish counterparts following the scandal surrounding Luis Rubiales.<\/p>\n
Rubiales, the head of the Spanish football federation, has received widespread condemnation\u00a0for kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips without consent following Spain\u2019s World Cup victory over England.<\/p>\n
He was expected to step down\u00a0at an extraordinary general assembly called by the RFEF on Friday but instead\u00a0claimed he was the victim of \u2018social murder\u2019 and \u2018false feminism\u2019 in an astonishing rant.<\/p>\n
The 46-year-old added it was a \u2018spontaneous\u2019 and \u2018consensual\u2019 kiss that took place during the trophy presentation last Sunday, but on Friday evening Hermoso reiterated: \u2018I want to clarify, that at no time did I consent to the kiss.<\/p>\n
\u2018I don\u2019t tolerate that my word is questioned, much less that words are invented that I haven\u2019t said.\u2019<\/p>\n
56 players including Hermoso and her World Cup-winning teammates subsequently signed a joint statement demanding Rubiales be sacked, insisting they will not play for their country again unless he is removed from his position.<\/p>\n
The statement has been widely supported, with each of the Lionesses sharing a joint statement of their own on social media.<\/p>\n
pic.twitter.com\/eeoh9MIOVx<\/p>\n
\u2018Unacceptable actions allowed to happen by a sexist and patriarchal organisation,\u2019 it read.<\/p>\n
\u2018Abuse is abuse and we have all seen the truth.<\/p>\n
\u2018The behaviour of those who think they are invincible must not be tolerated and people shouldn\u2019t need convincing to take action against any form of harassment.<\/p>\n
We all stand with you, Jenni Hermoso and all players of the Spanish team.\u2019<\/p>\n