Hope Solo accuses ex-FIFA chief Sepp Blatter of sexual harassment
What's the story
US women's soccer player Hope Solo accused the corruption-tainted former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter of sexual assault.
The world-cup winning goal keeper told a Portuguese newspaper that the incident happened during the 2013 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony.
This comes in the light of various sexual misconduct allegations against the likes of Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Louis CK.
Information
Hope Solo, player bio
Hope Solo is a US women's football national team's goal keeper who is a two-time Olympic gold medallist, and a 2015 World Cup winner.
What happened?
The alleged incident at the 2013 Ballon d'Or
Talking about the assault, the 36-year-old Solo said, "Sepp Blatter grabbed my ass, it was a few years ago at the Ballon d'Or ceremony just before I got on stage."
When asked why she hadn't spoken about it before, she said, "I was nervous for the presentation..After the ceremony I didn't see him..I didn't get to tell him directly 'don't ever touch me'."
Prevalent in sports
Solo says sexual misconduct is rampant in women's football
Calling sexual misconduct a 'rampant' issue in women's football, Solo said that she has seen it all through her career and it's not just in Hollywood.
"I've seen it with coaches, trainers, doctors, and our press officers. I've seen it among players in the locker room. I don't know why more players don't speak out against it."
12 Nov 2017
Sepp Blatter dismisses Hope Solo's sexual assault claims
Former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter denied the accusations made by US football star Hope Solo that he 'grabbed' her backside during an awards ceremony.
Blatter, 81, said that the claims were "absurd and ridiculous." He has been accused of making sexist remarks in the past. In 2004, he suggested that women play in tighter shorts to boost interest in the game.