Female footballer vows to boycott national team after she’s called ‘fat and out of shape’ by country’s football chief

9 months ago 85

PANAMA’S top female player has threatened to quit playing for her country after the nation’s football chief called her “fat and out of shape”.

World Cup history-maker Marta Cox vowed to boycott the team if federation president Manuel Arias persists with “hurtful” comments.

Marta Cox, seen in Panama’s 5-0 Concacaf defeat to Brazil last month, hit back at criticism from the supremo of her country’s football rulers[/caption]

Cox, 26, found fame with Panama Women’s first-ever goal in the showpiece tournament last August – a top-corner free-kick for 35 yards.

But the team had a woeful CONCACAF W Gold Cup over the last few weeks, crashing out after losing all three group games.

And Cox, who plays for Mexico’s Club Tijuana, angered Arias afterwards when she criticised facilities back home.

The supremo of Panama’s football rulers responded by telling local media: “Marta Cox stopped to talk about our league.

“She’s out of shape, she’s fat, she couldn’t move on the pitch.

“It’s very easy to talk, but she doesn’t know anything about the Panama league for years, she doesn’t know what’s going on here.”

Shocked Cox hit back – as she stuck to her guns about footballing conditions in her native country and warned Arias about his personal comments.

The exciting 20-cap ace, who has spent most of her career in Colombia and Mexico, said: “After the World Cup, I expected so much more.

“That desire to see steady progress led me to speak out after an unfortunate performance in the Gold Cup.

“We are the first to recognise that we were not up to the standard of the tournament, but that same introspection must go beyond just the players.

“Personally, I feel that there were words used to describe me that certainly hurt me and were unexpected.”

“If this type of situation becomes a constant, I will not return to defend the colours of the Panama national team.”

Fepafult have now posted a fulsome apology – with Arias promising not to use such language again.

The organization stated: “On International Women’s Day… from the Panamanian Football Federation we regret the unfortunate term used by our president Manuel Arias in the local media.

“He himself has pledged that it will not be repeated.

“In the Federation we are committed to continue working for women’s football, as we have been doing for the last five years through sports and training programmes focused on women.

“That said, we know that there is still a lot more work to do.”