Jenni Hermoso beams from stands at football match as Sevilla stars wear t-shirts to support her amid kissgate scandal
JENNIFER HERMOSO beamed in the stands as she attended a football match amid the kissgate scandal.
And the sport continued to show its support for the midfielder with Sevilla wearing t-shirts with messages of solidarity.
Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales inexplicably kissed Hermoso on the lips as she came up to receive her Women’s World Cup winner’s medal in Sydney last Sunday.
The incident led to widespread criticism of Rubiales – which extended into his controversial leadership of the RFEF.
But Hermoso, 33, tried to put the drama behind her by going on holiday with her team-mates in Ibiza this week.
And on Saturday evening she was all smiles watching Atletico Madrid take on AC Milan in the Women’s Cup pre-season tournament at the Spanish club’s training ground.
Hermoso, wearing a red top and black trousers, looked relaxed as she waved from her seat and posed for selfies with fans.
The people she was with revealed ‘#Contigo Jennifer Hermoso’ t-shirts – ‘contigo’ means ‘with you’.
The two sets of players also stood together before kick-off and unfurled a banner with the same message, while one player held up a Spain shirt with Hermoso’s No10 on the back.
Across Spain at Sevilla last night, the home players warmed up for their LaLiga clash against high-flying Girona in white tops over their kits.
The words ‘#SeAcabo’ were printed in red on the front – which translates as ‘it’s over’.
And Cadiz revealed a banner before their 1-1 draw with Almeria to state: “We are all Jenni.”
Since the kiss, Hermoso has publicly reiterated she did “not enjoy” it and that the act was not consensual.
She revealed she felt “vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out-of-place act without any consent on my part” in a brave Instagram post.
Rubiales gave a weak apology on Monday but refused to resign in a press conference four days later, insisting he was the victim of a “social assassination” from “false feminism” for a “consensual, spontaneous little peck”.
And the Spanish FA have defended their chief, ignoring Hermoso’s version of events and instead threatening her with legal action.
Various politicians, players and teams – including the Lionesses squad – have slammed Rubiales’ decision not to step down.
And 81 Spanish women players – as well as men’s international Borja Iglesias – have all quit and are refusing to play until the head of the RFEF leaves and there is a change in leadership.
The full coaching staff of Spain’s women’s side have also resigned with the exception of head coach Jorge Vilda, who applauded Rubiales’ announcement at the press conference.
Rubiales could be forced out against his wishes, though, after he was suspended by Fifa.