![Marta Cox plays for Panama against Colombia during the 2024 CONCAF W Gold Cup](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/9495/production/_132873083_gettyimages-2029009452.jpg)
Marta Cox has threatened not to play for Panama again after the president of the Panamanian Football Federation (FEPAFUT) called her “fat” and “out of shape”.
Manuel Arias made the comments after Cox complained about the facilities in Panama following the team’s group exit at the CONCAF W Gold Cup last month.
Players’ union Fipro called the president’s comments “unacceptable”.
“If this kind of situation becomes permanent, I will not return for the national team,” said midfielder Cox.
“I used the words to describe what I found difficult and unexpected.”
The 26-year-old, who plays for Tijuana in Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil, scored Panama’s first goal of the Women’s World Cup last summer – a 35-yard free-kick Defeated by France 6-3.
Panama are still eliminated after failing to pick up a point during their three group games, as they were in the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup, which faces Brazil in the final with host United States on Sunday.
Cox’s comments angered FEPAFUT president Aria, who said: “Marta Cox stopped by to talk about our league. She’s out of shape, he’s fat, she can’t be on the pitch.
“It’s very easy to talk to, but she doesn’t know anything about the Panama League for years. She doesn’t know what’s going on here.
‘More work to be done’
Panama participated in the Women’s World Cup last year for the first time, scoring 11 goals and conceding three, and in the Gold Cup they scored 13 goals while conceding just one.
In a statement through the Association of Professional Footballers of Panama, Cox said: “After the World Cup, I had high hopes, the desire to see continued progress led me to speak after the unfortunate performance in the Gold Cup.
“We are the first to admit that we were not up to the standard of the tournament, but the same self-sacrifice should only go beyond the players.”
FEPAFUT has posted an apology for Arias’ comments, saying “he has promised himself that it will not be repeated”.
The federation added: “On International Women’s Day… we regret the unfortunate term used by our President.”
He said that we at the federation are committed to continue working for women’s football, as we have been doing for the past five years through women-focused sports and training programs.
“That said, we know there’s still a lot of work to be done.”