Norway forward Ada Hegerberg helped Lyon to Champions League and the French title (Reuters Photo) HIGHLIGHTS Ada Hegerberg, who led Lyon to Champions League glory, won the inaugural women's Ballon d'Or Host DJ, Martin Solveig is facing flak on Twitter over his controversial gesture that left Hegerberg embarrassed Hegerberg has been expressing concerns over "lack of respect" for female players in Norway Ada Hegerberg created history by becoming the inaugural winner of women's Ballon d'Or award but the inspirational Norwegian forward was left embarrassed when host DJ Martin Solveig asked her to twerk on stage in Paris on Monday.

A clip of Solveig asking Hegerberg if she wanted to dance and whether she knew how to twerk is being shared widely on social media. The Norwegian star, who hasn't played for her national team since Women's Euro 2017, was seen saying "non" in French before reluctantly agreeing to dance to another song.

Twerk is used to refer dancing to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.

Martin Solveig really asked Ada Hegerberg, the first ever Ballon D'Or winner, to twerk. The absolute disrespect bruh. pic.twitter.com/Mtc5DBjS7a

A West (@ayyy_west) December 3, 2018 Even as Solveig is facing flak on social media, the French DJ took to Twitter to reveal he had apologised to Hegerberg after the ceremony and that his gesture was just a "joke".

"I explained to @AdaStolsmo the buzz and she told me she understood it was a joke. Nevertheless my apologies to anyone who may have been offended. Most importantly congratulations to Ada," Solveig wrote.

I explained to @AdaStolsmo the buzz and she told me she understood it was a joke. Nevertheless my apologies to anyone who may have been offended. Most importantly congratulations to Ada pic.twitter.com/DATdg0TfQk

Martin Solveig (@martinsolveig) December 3, 2018 Hegerberg, who led Lyon to Champions League and league title, maintained she didn't consider the much-talked-about episode as "sexual harassment" and that she was happy to do the dance at that moment.

"He came to me afterward and was really sad that it went that way. I didn't really consider it sexual harassment or anything in the moment. I was just happy to do the dance and win the Ballon d'Or," the Norway forward said, as Quote: d by The Guardian.

Despite being recognized as the best female footballer in the world, the outspoken 23-year-old said she won't play for Norway at the Women's World Cup in France next June.

Hegerberg to snub World Cup over 'lack of respect' for women footballers

Taking a stand against what she describes as a lack of respect for female players in Norway, Hegerberg hasn't played for the national team since they crashed out of the group stage of the Women's European Championship in 2017 without scoring a goal.

Hegerberg told The Associated Press she has no plans to reconsider her decision taken to preserve her "authenticity and my values, as a person, as a footballer."

"A lot of things need to be done to make the conditions better for women who play football," she said. "It's all about how we respect women's football. I don't think the respect has been there.

"Sometimes you have to take tough decisions to stay true to yourself. I let them know, quite clearly, what I found wasn't working."

The three-time Women's Champions League winner with French team Lyon says she'll be resting during the World Cup and training for the next season with her club.

"I wish the national team the best, though. We just follow two different paths at the moment," she said. "I have no regrets with the decision I made."

A jury of 45 journalists picked her from among 15 nominees for the inaugural Ballon d'Or for women.

Hegerberg, who scored a tournament-record 15 Women's Champions League goals last season, said winning the trophy "tops everything" and described it as "a huge step for women's football."

"It's not that often that I use the word 'proud' but today I'm really proud," she said.

(With inputs from AP)

Also Read | It is a unique feeling, hard to describe in words: Modric after winning Ballon d'Or Also Read | Tottenham fan throws banana peel on Arsenal's Aubameyang, gets arrested Also See:

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