'Abuse of power' - Spain star Aitana Bonmati speaks out against Luis Rubiales after winning UEFA best women’s player award

Aitana Bonmati was awarded the 2022-23 UEFA Women's Player of the Year award and she made the most of her acceptance speech to lash out Luis Rubiales.

The Spanish Football Federation president finds himself in the eye of a storm since he grabbed and kissed Jenni Hermoso without her consent during the award ceremony of the FIFA Women's World Cup final in which his country beat England 1-0 to lift their maiden global crown.

Although he remains defiant that his actions were consensual, Hermoso insists that she did not «enjoy» the kiss and around 81 players have since claimed that they will not play for Spain until Rubiales is dismissed.

Bonmati did not mince words to attack the underfire president and demanded that the «abuse of power» must be stopped.

“As a society, we cannot allow the abuse of power in a working environment or disrespect,” Bonmatí said on stage as UEFA leaders watched on. “To all women who are suffering the same thing as Jenni, we’re with you.

«Spanish soccer is going through bad moments right now. We won the World Cup, but we’re not talking a lot about that because of some things I rather not ignore,» she further added.

England manager, Sarina Wiegman, was a bit milder than Bonmati but she cautioned: «There is still a long way to go in women’s football and in society.

“We all know the issues around the Spanish team. It really hurts me as a coach, a mother of two daughters, as a wife and human being,» she added.

Rubiales has been suspended by FIFA but the administrator has now reportedly sent a video to the governing body where Jenni Hermoso appears to be joking about the kiss. It remains to be seen how FIFA responds to the video sent by Rubiales.