US star Hope Solo accuses ex-Fifa boss Sepp Blatter of sexual assault

This file photo taken on June 29, 2015 shows USA goalkeeper Hope Solo waiting for the start of a training session at Olympic Stadium in Montreal on the eve of the 2015 Fifa Women's World Cup semi-final match against Germany. Solo accused Sepp Blatter of sexual assault on November 10, 2017, claiming the disgraced former Fifa president groped her backside at the 2013 Ballon d'Or ceremony. PHOTO | FRANCK FIFE |

What you need to know:

  • Solo, a World Cup winner and two-time Olympic champion, made the allegations on the sidelines of the Web Summit being held in Lisbon.
  • She said that sexual harassment at the hands of male officials was a common problem in women's football.
  • Blatter was president of Fifa from 1998 until 2015 until he was banned for corruption.

LISBON

US women's football star Hope Solo accused Sepp Blatter of sexual assault on Friday, claiming the disgraced former Fifa president groped her backside at the 2013 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

The 36-year-old Solo, her country's standout goalkeeper, claimed the 81-year-old Blatter pounced as she was about to present an award to her teammate Abby Wambach.
"Sepp Blatter grabbed my (sic), it was a few years ago at the Ballon d'Or ceremony just before I got on stage," Solo told Portuguese newspaper Expresso.

A spokesman for Blatter, however, said the accusation was "ridiculous".

Solo, a World Cup winner and two-time Olympic champion, made the allegations on the sidelines of the Web Summit being held in Lisbon.

She said that sexual harassment at the hands of male officials was a common problem in women's football.

"I have seen this all of my career and I would like to see more athletes speak about their experiences," said Solo.

"It's out of control, not just in Hollywood but everywhere," she added in reference to the firestorm of sexual harassment allegations in entertainment, politics and sport ever since the scandal involving Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein unfolded.

Blatter was president of Fifa from 1998 until 2015 until he was banned for corruption.