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Associated Press

United States soccer star Hope Solo told a Portuguese newspaper that former Ffia President Sepp Blatter sexually assaulted her at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in 2013.
In an interview published on Friday in the newspaper Expresso, two-time Olympic gold medallist Solo said Blatter grabbed her rear end shortly before the two appeared onstage at the annual soccer awards event.
A representative for 36-year-old Solo confirmed the report was accurate and said the former goalkeeper for the US women’s national team had no further comment on the matter.
Blatter could not immediately be reached for comment, but the embattled former head of soccer’s governing body told The Guardian newspaper: “This allegation is ridiculous.”
Sepp Blatter loses appeal at CAS against six-year Fifa ban
Solo anchored the US team in goal during their 2015 Women’s World Cup championship run, allowing just three goals in seven games with five shutouts during the tournament.
Solo has made 202 appearances for the national team, with 153 wins and an international-record 102 clean sheets.
Solo’s tenure with the national team ended following last year’s Olympics in Brazil, when the Americans were beaten by Sweden in the quarter-finals. Afterwards, Solo called the Swedish team “cowards” for their defensive style of play.
She was suspended from the team shortly thereafter and has not returned.
Noses in the trough: Sepp Blatter and two disgraced deputies paid themselves US$80 million over five years, Fifa says
Blatter was suspended from office and banned from soccer for six years following allegations of a widespread corruption scandal that came to light in 2015.
Both US and Swiss officials cooperated in the investigation, which is ongoing, and more than 40 people have been indicted.
Blatter has also had a history of what many consider to be sexist behaviour concerning the women’s game.
US forward Alex Morgan has said Blatter failed to recognise her at the annual award event in 2012, even though she was one of three nominees for the women’s player of the year.
Blatter also famously argued in 2004 that players could boost the popularity of the women’s game by wearing tighter shorts.
Banned Sepp Blatter defiant: I will fight until the end


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Fifa

US soccer star Hope Solo accuses disgraced former Fifa president Sepp Blatter of sexual assault

Former United States goalkeeper Hope Solo has accused former Fifa president Sepp Blatter of sexual assault. Photo: AP

United States goalkeeper Hope Solo (1) makes a save against Japan during the women's soccer gold medal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

epa05661015 (FILE) A file picture dated 20 July 2015 shows FIFA President Joseph Blatter during a press conference following the extraordinary FIFA Executive Committee meeting at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter's six-year ban from soccer has been upheld after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 05 December 2016. EPA/ENNIO LEANZA

US Soccer slaps maverick goalkeeper Hope Solo with six-month ban over Sweden ‘cowards’ remark at Olympic Games

Hope Solo remains unrepentant about her controversial comments. Photo: AP

United States' Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd react as Sweden's players celebrate after a penalty shoot-out during a quarter-final match of the women's Olympic football tournament between the United States and Sweden in Brasilia Friday Aug. 12, 2016. United States was eliminated by Sweden in Olympic women's soccer quarterfinal after penalty shoot-out.(AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

United States goalkeeper Hope Solo fails to stop a penalty during a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-final match of the women's Olympic football tournament between the United States and Sweden in Brasilia Friday Aug. 12, 2016. The United States was eliminated by Sweden after a penalty shoot-out.(AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

‘Bunch of cowards’: bitter Hope Solo blasts defensive Sweden after USA bow out in Rio

United States goalkeeper Hope Solo has been lambasted on social media after her unsporting reaction to being knocked out by massive underdogs Sweden in the quarter-finals. Photo: AP

Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl reacts as United States goalkeeper Hope Solo walks by during a penalty shoot-out in a quarter-final match of the women's Olympic football tournament between the United States and Sweden in Brasilia Friday Aug. 12, 2016. The United States were eliminated by Sweden in the Olympic women's soccer quarterfinal after penalty shoot-out.(AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

United States' Christen Press walks by Sweden's players after missing a penalty kick during a penalty shoot-out at a quarter-final match of the women's Olympic football tournament in Brasilia Friday Aug. 12, 2016. The United States were eliminated by Sweden in the Olympic women's soccer quarterfinal after penalty shoot-out.(AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Sport

Football

Blatter says the allegation is ‘ridiculous’ that he grabbed Solo at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in 2013


Sepp Blatter