Former Fifa President Sepp Blatter Accused Of S£xually Assaulting Female Goalkeeper

USA women’s football team goalkeeper, Hope Solo, has accused former Fifa President Sepp Blatter has been of s3xually assaulting at an awards ceremony. The goalkeeper told Portuguese newspaper Expresso that Blatter ‘grabbed her ass’ moments before the pair took to the stage at the Ballon d’Or awards in 2013.

The 36-year-old goalkeeper presented the women’s World Player of the Year award alongside Blatter – who is currently banned from football for six years.

In the interview Solo claimed Blatter grabbed her behind seconds before they both went on stage:

“I had Sepp Blatter grab my ass,” she said. “It was at the Ballon d’Or, right before I went on stage. [Sexual harassment] has been normalised.”

Solo added that she was not able to confront Blatter due to the speed they went out on to the stage, and she has not seen him since.

Blatter’s spokesman told the Guardian: “This allegation is ridiculous.”

She added to the Guardian: “While in this instance it was Sepp Blatter, who was the most powerful man in football at the time, sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour are rampant at every level in women’s sport and it needs to stop.”