Women’s soccer scandal in Panama. The player Martha Cox has announced through a statement that he will no longer defend the national team shirt. The reason: the president of his country’s Football Federation called him “fat” and assured him he was “out of shape.”
Manuel Arias president of the Panamanian Football Federation (Fepafut), participated in a sports program, where he made some critical comments about the women’s team and directly referred to Cox, one of the team’s leaders.
Immediately afterwards, the Panamanian player, who plays in Mexican soccer, issued a public statement: “Personally, I consider that there are words that describe me that I was definitely hurt and that was unexpected. I take advantage of the space that this to highlight that, if these situations become constant, I will not return to defend the colors of the Panama team,” said the soccer player.
Arias made these comments afterwards Cox complained about the facilities in Panama and the uncertain resources of the women’s team after the team’s elimination in the Gold Cup group stage in February.
The Tijuana player from Mexico added that the fact of playing abroad “doesn’t make me forget what happens every day. Let it be clear that soccer players who work abroad raise our voices to generate more strength among those working in Panama.
Players’ union Fifpro called the president’s comments “unacceptable.” And the player himself emphasized that he will leave the national team “if such situations repeat themselves.”
A few minutes after the player published this statement, Manuel Arias president of Fepafut, did the same and through a note released through his social media accounts, the president expressed his apology to Marta Cox. “During those 20 years, Marta, I laughed with you, I cried with you. I’m proud of your successes and I’m there to support you in bad times. Again, I’m sorry because I hurt you. This I don’t never intended to degrade you. nor discriminate against you. And even if I am not the person who separates you from being a member of the women’s team of Panama. Who am I to do this? If women’s soccer, for me, in Panama was called “Martha Cox.”
“I don’t think I would like anything more than to continue working for the growth of women’s soccer in Panama, with you.” [Cox] as we have been doing until now,” concluded the president.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
