LISBON • United States women's football star Hope Solo has accused Mr Sepp Blatter of sexual assault, claiming that the disgraced former Fifa president groped her backside at the 2013 Ballon d'Or ceremony.
The 36-year-old Ms Solo, her country's standout goalkeeper, claimed on Friday that the 81-year-old Mr Blatter pounced as she was about to present an award to her teammate Abby Wambach.
"Sepp Blatter grabbed my ass; it was a few years ago at the Ballon d'Or ceremony just before I got on stage," Ms Solo told Portuguese newspaper Expresso.
However Mr Blatter, told AFP the accusations were "absurd and ridiculous".
Ms 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 Ms 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.
Mr Blatter was president of Fifa - the international governing body of association football - from 1998 to 2015, until he was banned for corruption.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
