![Marta Cox plays for Panama against Columbia in the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/9495/production/_132873083_gettyimages-2029009452.jpg)
Marta Cox has threatened to not play for Panama once more after the president of the Panamanian Soccer Federation (FEPAFUT) referred to as her “fats” and “off form”.
Manuel Arias made the feedback after Cox complained concerning the amenities in Panama following the staff’s departure from the Concacaf W Gold Cup final month.
Gamers’ union Fifpro referred to as the president’s statements “unacceptable”.
“If conditions like this grow to be a relentless, I cannot return to the nationwide staff,” mentioned midfielder Cox.
“Phrases had been used to explain me that actually harm me and had been sudden.”
The 26-year-old, who performs for Tijuana in Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil, scored Panama’s first Girls’s World Cup purpose final summer time, a 35-yard free-kick throughout their match. 6-3 defeat towards France.
Panama had been nonetheless eradicated after failing to earn a degree of their three group matches, simply as they did within the first Concacaf W Gold Cup, which concludes on Sunday with hosts America going through Brazil within the remaining.
Cox’s feedback angered FEPAFUT president Arias, who mentioned: “Marta Cox stopped to speak about our competitors. She’s off form, she’s fats, she could not transfer on the pitch.
“It’s totally straightforward to speak, however she hasn’t identified something concerning the Panama League for years. She would not know what is going on on right here.”
‘There’s nonetheless a whole lot of work to be achieved’
Panama made their first look on the Girls’s World Cup final yr, conceding eleven targets and scoring three, and within the Gold Cup they conceded 13 whereas solely scoring one.
In an announcement launched by Panama’s Affiliation of Skilled Footballers, Cox mentioned: “After the World Cup, I anticipated a lot extra. That need to see regular progress prompted me to talk out after an unlucky efficiency within the Gold Cup.
“We’re the primary to acknowledge that we had been lower than the usual of the match, however that very same introspection should prolong past the gamers.”
FEPAFUT has posted an apology for Arias’ feedback, saying that “he himself has promised that it’s going to not be repeated.”
The federation added: “On Worldwide Girls’s Day… we remorse the unlucky time period utilized by our President.
“Within the federation we’re dedicated to persevering with to champion ladies’s soccer, as we’ve achieved over the previous 5 years by way of sports activities and coaching applications aimed toward ladies.
“That mentioned, we all know there’s rather more work to be achieved.”