MADRID, Aug 26 ― Spain’s soccer federation said today it would take legal action to defend its president, Luis Rubiales, today even as he faces a storm of criticism for grabbing star player Jenni Hermoso’s head and kissing her on the lips after Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory.

In a statement issued in the early hours the federation said it would show there have been lies about what happened by Hermoso or people speaking for her. The statement on the Royal Spanish Football Federation website said it would take legal action to defend Rubiales’ honour, but did not say what the action would consist of.