Jenni Hermoso brands federation 'manipulative' and 'hostile'

Jenni Hermoso has accused the Spanish Football Federation of a "manipulative, hostile and controlling culture" as the World Cup-winning squad refused to play while president Luis Rubiales remains in post.

A total of 81 players signed a letter stating they will not accept national team call-ups while Rubiales refuses to resign after kissing Hermoso – who has stressed she did not consent – following the country's Women’s World Cup final win over England.

He claimed it was "spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual" but Hermoso, who previously suggested comments playing down the incident attributed to her by the federation were false, has hit back with an attack on the organisation as a whole.

"I have to state that I have been under continuous pressure to come up with a statement that could justify the act of Mr. Luis Rubiales," she said in a statement on Twitter.

"Not only that, but in different ways and through different people, the RFEF has pressured those around me (family, friends, colleagues, etc.) to give testimony that had little or nothing to do with my feelings.

"It is not up to me to evaluate communication and integrity practices, but I am sure that as the world champion national team we do not deserve such a manipulative, hostile and controlling culture.

"This type of incident joins a long list of situations that we players have been denouncing in recent years, so this event, in which I have been involved, is just the straw that breaks the camel’s back and what everyone has been able to see.

"But attitudes like this have been part of the day-to-day life of our team for years.

"For all these reasons, I want to reinforce the position I took from the beginning, considering that I do not have to support the person who