(Reuters) - U.S. soccer star Hope Solo accused ex-FIFA President Sepp Blatter of grabbing her buttocks during an awards ceremony five years ago, an allegation that the former head of international footballs governing body denied.

Solo, 36, told a Portuguese newspaper that Blatter touched her inappropriately in January 2013 during the Ballon Dor awards ceremony in Lisbon. A spokeswoman for Solo on Saturday confirmed her comments.

I had Sepp Blatter grab my ass, the former goalkeeper on the U.S. national womens team said in an audio interview with Expresso, posted on Saturday.

It was at the Ballon Dor one year, right before I went on stage, said Solo, who received FIFAs womens player of the year award in 2013. Its been normalized.

A spokesman for Blatter said in a phone interview on Saturday that Solos allegation was absurd and ridiculous, and it is not true.