CASARES, Spain
After Spain won the soccer Women’s World Cup in August, the country’s triumph and subsequent celebrations were marred by the actions of Luis Rubiales, a former player and official who was serving as the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation and as a vice president for the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
Rubiales kissed a Spanish player, Jennifer Hermoso, on the lips during the award ceremony, causing a firestorm of controversy for the weeks to come. Hermoso has been adamant the kiss wasn’t consensual. Rubiales has since resigned his position and was in court earlier this week, where a judge gave him a restraining order. The former Spanish official cannot be within 200 meters (656 feet) of Hermoso and the court in Madrid is considering a criminal complaint for sexual assault and coercion.
So what does this have to do with golf? Spain’s Carlota Ciganda was asked about the incident during her press conference ahead of the 2023 Solheim Cup this week at Finca Cortesin and her answer drew a round of applause from Spanish and European media. The following quotes have been translated from Spanish to English.
“I think it was a shame what happened in the end, when Spain won the World Cup, I think we should celebrate the World Cup because in the end that is not going to happen many times,” said Ciganda. “I think that (Rubiales) was obviously wrong, he doesn’t have to act like that, especially in such a public event, when you are in front of everyone.”
“Obviously of course I support the players and when so many people agree, obviously things have happened that we may not know,” she continued. “But I think the important thing is to celebrate the World Cup, which is what everyone should be very proud of, the country we have and the great athletes there are.”
Ciganda, 33, said it’s “a dream come true” and “pleasure” to represent the European team in her home country as she makes her sixth Solheim Cup appearance this week.
“I just love playing for our team. When it comes to Solheim, it reminds me of when I used to play with Spain, like the European Team Championships. I think match play, it’s a lot of fun because you have a winner at the end of the day of the match,” said Ciganda, who boasts a 7-8-4 record in the biennial event against the United States. “So I just love playing match play, playing for the team, for your teammates, for the captain. I think that’s more fun than playing for yourself. I do love that about this week and the atmosphere that we have. I mean, the European team is always one united team and I love that.”
Despite being the lone Spaniard on the 12-player European side, the Pamplona native and resident doesn’t feel any added pressure to perform this week.
“I think more than pressure it’s just going to be excitement, adrenaline, and just fun. I’m going to embrace it and I think it’s going to be great to have all the support from Spain, from my family, lots of members from my club,” said Ciganda. “So I’m just going to try to go out there and enjoy. I know I’m going to feel nervous and I’m going to feel that adrenaline. I know I can play great golf with that, so I’m just going to enjoy and embrace every moment.”