After FIFA on Saturday punished Spain’s soccer federation president Luis Rubiales for kissing Women’s World Cup victor Jenni Hermoso on the lips at last week’s final, the crisis in Spanish soccer grew worse.

FIFA furthered the scandal that marred a historic triumph for the women’s squad by announcing that Rubiales would be barred from “all football-related activities at national and international level” for 90 days while disciplinary action is taken.

Despite vehement criticism from Hermoso, her teammates, and the Spanish government, Rubiales maintains that the kiss was consensual. She has also refused to back down in the wake of the incident.

Hermoso said the kiss was unwanted

Hermoso claimed that she and the entire World Cup-winning team did not want the kiss, and they have refused to play while Rubiales is still in office.

The president has been supported by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), which has threatened legal action against Hermoso and others.

FIFA further prohibited Rubiales and the Spanish football federation from getting in touch with Hermoso in order to protect her “fundamental rights.” Hermoso claimed she had been requested to “alleviate the pressure” on Rubiales after the kiss, which was witnessed by millions of people worldwide.

“I felt exposed.”

FIFA’s ban follows the scandal’s further escalation when Hermoso was threatened with legal action by Spain’s soccer body for allegedly fabricating a kiss from Rubiales.

“The evidence is overwhelming. Along with explanations of images it claimed to prove Rubiales’ assertion, the federation asserted, “The President has not lied.

The federation also stated that players had “an obligation” to take part in games “if they are called for it,” following statements made by Hermoso and the other nearly 50 professional women soccer players who were among the 23 members of Spain’s World Cup-winning team that they would not play for their nation again until Rubiales was fired.

Rubiales gave a combative statement on Friday in which he repeatedly declared his refusal to back down and spoke of “unjust” campaigns and “fake feminism.”

Hermoso responded to the speech with a statement that stated, “At no time did I consent to the kiss that was delivered to me.

Hermoso expressed her feelings in a post on social media, saying: “I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out of place act without any consent on my part.”

She stated that she had been “under continuous pressure to make a statement that could justify Mr. Luis Rubiales’ actions” and that she had declined attempts to issue a statement to “alleviate the pressure” on Rubiales.

The controversy, which had been escalating all week, brought attention to sexism and gender equality in a nation that has seen huge protests against sexual assault and other forms of violence.

Sunday’s kiss was followed immediately by Rubiales’ admission that he “made a mistake”.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared that the apology was “not enough” for what he called a “unacceptable gesture”. The administration has started the procedure that would enable them to depose him.

Some of the team sponsors voiced their support for the athletes, putting additional pressure on Rubiales and the organization. September is the next scheduled game for the Spanish ladies.

Hermoso and the team have also received a lot of support from the women’s England soccer team, who Spain defeated in the championship game.

Rubiales is a member of the executive committee of UEFA, the organization that governs European soccer, but CNN did not immediately hear back.