Hermoso part of mass strike after denying she consented to Rubiales kiss

Spanish midfielder Jenni Hermoso joined a mass strike of women players on Friday after saying she did not consent to being kissed by the country's football federation chief Luis Rubiales after Spain's victory in the Women's World Cup final.

In a statement released by women players' union Futpro, Hermoso and 80 other players said they would not accept an international call-up "if the current leadership continues" at the Spanish football federation (RFEF).

Rubiales, 46, defied expectations by refusing to resign at an emergency RFEF meeting earlier Friday.

The chief said in a fiery speech that his kiss on Hermoso's lips during the World Cup final medal ceremony on Sunday was "mutual, euphoric and consensual" and she had said "OK" when he asked her if he could give her "a peck".

He also asserted that "she was the one who lifted me in her arms and brought me close to her body".

However Hermoso hit back strongly against his claims later Friday, saying she felt "vulnerable and the victim of an assault".

"I want to clarify that at no time did I consent to the kiss that he gave me and in no case did I seek to lift up the president," Hermoso said in the Futpro statement.

'They invent words'

"I do not tolerate my word being questioned and much less that they invent words that I did not say."

Futpro said in the statement that every player signing it, which included the 23 World Cup winners, were taking a stand to force change.

"It fills us with sadness that such an unacceptable event is succeeding in tarnishing the greatest sporting success of Spanish women's football," it read.

"We wish to declare that all the players signing this document will not return to a national team squad if the current leadership continues."

Before the World Cup 15