England stars say 'abuse is abuse' as they stand by Jenni Hermoso

England's lionesses have had their say on the ongoing row in Spain over the country's football boss who appeared to forcibly kiss one of the victorious players during their Women's World Cup final celebrations.

Football Federation President Luis Rubiales, 46, caused outrage after the Spanish women defeated England in Sydney, Australia, last weekend and he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the celebrations. He was also seen grabbing his crotch while in the royal box with Queen Letizia and her daughter.

England's women vowed to stand by Hermoso in a statement last night, saying: 'Abuse is abuse and we have all seen the truth'.

The Lionesses called Rubiales' actions 'unacceptable' and pointed at the Spanish FA, labelling it a 'sexist and patriarchal organisation'.

It comes after Hermoso herself issued an emotional statement on Friday in which she claimed she has been put under 'continuous pressure' to defend Rubiales, and stressed she did not consent to the forced kiss.

Luis Rubiales has now remained defiant, insisting he won't step down - accusing Hermoso of lying as he claims she agreed to the kiss.

The Lionesses' statement last night read: 'Unacceptable actions allowed to happen by a sexist and patriarchal organisation.

'Abuse is abuse and we have all seen the truth. The behaviour of those who think they are invincible must not be tolerated and people shouldn't take any convincing to take action against any form of harassment.

'We stand with you, Jenni Hermoso and all players of the Spanish team.'

Lionesses Goalkeeper Mary Earps, defender Lucy Bronze, and World Cup captain Millie Bright were among the players to share the statement on their social media accounts.

Hermoso last night accused Rubiales and the Spanish FA of creating a 'manipulative' and 'controlling' environment for players.

It followed a dramatic meeting with the country's football bosses at which he had been expected to resign, but instead accused the media and player of a 'social murder' and shouted four times he would not step down. He claims the kiss was consensual.

After he refused to quit his job and blamed 'false feminism' for what he called a 'social murder', the Spanish government started legal action to suspend him - and the head of Spain's women's football committee has quit his post in protest.

The Spanish footballer responded to Rubiales after he today told officials he asked permission to kiss Hermoso, who was said to have responded to say he could give her 'a little peck'.

But Hermoso vehemently denied this as she, the rest of the 23-strong World Cup squad and 58 other players all signed a statement refusing to play another game for Spain until Rubiales is no longer in post.

Taking to Twitter, she wrote: 'I feel obliged to report that Mr Luis Rubiales' words explaining the unfortunate incident are categorically false and part of the manipulative culture that he himself has generated.

'I want to make it clear that at no time did the conversation wo which Mr Luis Rubiales refers to in his address take place, and, above all, was his kiss ever consensual.

'I want to reiterate as I did before that I did not like this incident.

'The situation shocked me given the celebrations that were taking place at the moment, and with the passage of time and after delving a little deeper into those initial feelings, I feel the need to report this incident because I believe that no person, in any work, sports or social setting should be a victim of these types of non-consensual behaviours.

'I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out of place act without any consent on my part.

'Simply put, I was not respected.'

She went on to accuse the Spanish FA (RFEF) of putting her under 'continuous pressure' to 'make a joint statement to alleviate the pressure on the president' as outrage about the kiss grew.

Hermoso also claimed her friends, family and teammates have also been pressured, with teammates also asked by the RFEF to make statements about the incident.

Rubiales claimed the kiss was 'consensual' in a speech today. He said: 'It was a spontaneous kiss. Mutual, euphoric and consensual. That's the key. A consensual 'peck' is enough to get me out of here?

'Jenni was the one who lifted me up. I told her to 'forget about the penalty [that Mary Earps saved]' and I said to her 'a little peck?' and she said 'OK'.'

Hermoso said this claim was 'categorically false and part of the manipulative culture that he has generated.'

She continued: 'I am sure that as the World Champions, we as a team do not deserve such a manipulative, hostile, and controlling culture.

'These types of incidents add to a long list of situations that the players have been denouncing in recent years.

'This incident, one in which I have been involved, is the final straw and what everyone has been able to witness on live television during the celebration also comes with attitudes like the one we saw the morning and have been part of our team's daily life for years.'

Rubiales had been expected to resign on Friday but instead began a long-winded rant in which he claimed he was the subject of a 'witch-hunt', shouting he would not resign four times.

After his failure to step down, the Spanish government has started legal proceedings in a bid to have the 46-year-old suspended. Victor Francos, head of the government's National Sports Council, said the government sees this as the 'MeToo of Spanish football,' the Times reports.

Francos said: 'What Mr Rubiales has done is aggravate the situation. The government will not be impassive.'

He continued: 'The government begins today the procedures so that Mr Rubiales has to give explanations before the Administrative Court of Sport [TAD] and, if the TAD is willing, we will suspend Mr Rubiales in his functions.'

It is expected a court hearing will take place on Monday.

Viral images showed the president with his hands holding both sides of Hermoso's head as he kissed her on the lips.

Asked about the moment on Spanish TV afterwards, Hermoso said: 'I did not like it.'

A total of 81 players signed a joint statement sent via their FUTPRO union demanding the removal of the federation leadership and refusing to play for the national team until Rubiales has gone.

Today he refused to quit in a rant where he blamed 'false feminism' for the perceived 'witch-hunt' against him.

It comes as the president of Spain's Women's Football Committee Rafael del Amo resigned after Luis Rubiales announced that he would not be stepping down as the president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

Del Amo, who oversees the body that supervises women's football in Spain, claimed on Friday that he could not be involved in a project that he 'did not believe in.'

'I have submitted my resignation after seeing that Luis Rubiales continues to lead the Federation,' Del Amo said, according to Diario de Sevilla.

'I have been the only president who has told him looking at his face. I believed in a female project that did not exist and he opted for it, with 27 million euros, I am super grateful.

'But I think, above all because of what happened in the box, that it is unacceptable.'

'I told him [Rubiales]: 'Have to be honest with you, I think you can't be here as president',' he added.

'I have to thank him, I respect what he does, but I can't be in a project that I don't believe in, that's clear. We all thought on Thursday that he was going to resign today.'

Alexis Putellas, a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, and World Cup-winning team-mates Cata Coll, Aitana Bonmati and Irene Paredes have all spoken out publicly in defence of Hermoso.

Putellas tweeted: 'This is unacceptable. It's over. With you partner @jennihermoso', while Bonmati wrote: 'There are limits that cannot be crossed and we cannot tolerate this. We are with you partner.'

Cata Coll, who was between the sticks for Spain in the final, wrote: 'What a pity it gives me that 23 soccer players are not the protagonists... it's over! With you to death Jenni Hermoso'.

Their fellow Spanish player, Patricia Guijarro, who was one of 15 players to voice opposition to head coach Jorge Vilda last year and was not picked for the World Cup, tweeted: 'It's over. With you @jennihermoso. Unfortunate to reach this point to believe that the complaints from months ago were real.'

Men's national team striker Borja Iglesias has also quit playing for his country in protest while Rubiales remains in post.

The 30-year-old Real Betis full-back, who has been capped twice by Spain, said: 'Wearing the Spanish National Team shirt is one of the greatest things that has happened to me in my career.

'I don't know if at some point I will be an option again, but I have made the decision not to return to the National Team until things change and this type of act does not go unpunished.'

Having branded his detractors as 'idiots' earlier this week, Rubiales was again defiant amid mounting pressure to step down from his position.

'I am not going to resign,' he shouted four times in a charged speech following an emergency meeting of federation officials, vowing 'I will fight until the end.'

Norway's Caroline Hansen, who plays for Barcelona, said: '@Jennihermoso with you! This is all lies. We all see what really happened.'

Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea said 'my ears are bleeding', while ex-Real Madrid and Spain 'keeper Iker Casillas called the fiasco 'embarrassing'.

In another sensational move, Rubiales said he would extend the contract of highly unpopular Spain women's team coach Jorge Vilda by another four years, announcing he would pay him €500,000 (£428,000) a year.

Rubiales said: 'This is the body that elected me and the body to which I must give explanations.

'I want to apologise for an event that occurred in the box [the crotch-grabbing]. I am going to explain it by looking at Jorge Vilda.

'We have been through a lot, they have wanted to do to you the same thing that they are doing to me know, they are trying to create a false speech and turn it against you.

'I was very moved when after winning the World Cup you turned around and dedicated it to me. There I made the gesture.

'I apologise to Her Majesty the Queen, I have never behaved like this in a box.'

On the Hermoso kiss, he said: 'It was more of a peck than a kiss. There was no desire, the desire was the same I would have giving my daughter a kiss, there was no dominance. It was spontaneous, mutual and consented.

'I have a great relationship with all the players and we had very affectionate moments.

'Jenni picked me up off the ground and we almost fell. She was the one who lifted me up.'

He claimed again that the kiss was consensual, before accusing players of a 'social murder'.

He continued: 'Politicians have refered to this action as sexual violence, without consent, assault… These people are trying to assassinate me publicly and I am going to defend myself like all Spaniards, in court. I will take action against these people.

'The sensationalism of false feminism, they have pushed a lot, the press is going to continue killing me. The truth is the truth.

'They will be able to continue with this campaign, deep in my heart I don't care, it is a matter of humility.'

Rubiales then said: 'The time has come to say something. I was wrong and it was not the time to make that gesture. Is it serious for me to leave? I am not going to resign.'

He repeated this statement three more times, adding: 'I'm going to fight until the end.'

It was announced on Thursday that FIFA had opened disciplinary proceedings against the football chief, who had been clinging on to his position.

Reports emerged in the Spanish press on Thursday that Rubiales was considering his position after Spain's acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez demanded an explanation.

Rubiales has now refused to leave as the furore over the 46-year-old's behaviour rumbles on.