Spain prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales for kissing Jenni Hermoso at the Women's World Cup final on the grounds that it could constitute a crime of "sexual assault".

There has been widespread criticism of Rubiales after he kissed Spain forward Hermoso on the lips following Spain's 1-0 win over England eight days ago.

The Prosecutors' Office of the National Court had received six complaints but was waiting for a complaint from the player before opening an investigation.

It acted after Hermoso released a statement on Friday saying she felt vulnerable and had been "a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out-of-place act without any consent on my part".

Rubiales was widely expected to resign from his role as Spanish FA president on Friday but instead made a defiant speech, claiming he was the victim of a witch-hunt by "false feminists".

As a result, the Spanish FA called an "extraordinary and urgent" meeting on Monday "to evaluate the situation in which the federation finds itself".

Rubiales has been suspended by FIFA, while the Spanish FA's own request for the federation to be suspended by UEFA has been rejected after it complained the Spanish government was interfering in its affairs.

The crisis has also taken a bizarre turn with Rubiales' mother, Angeles Bejar, locking herself in a church in his hometown of Motril, and refusing to eat because of the "inhuman hunt" against her son.

(Source: Sky)