New Delhi: FIFA has suspended Panama’s football federation’s president after the latter fat-shamed one of the players from the women’s national team. Manual Arias had earlier commented that Marta Cox was “fat” following the midfielder’s criticism of the national team’s set-up that had qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
In their statement on Thursday, the Panamian soccer federation condemned the comments and informed that President Arias had been banned for six months which will be in place until July 14th, 2025. They further noted that during this period he won’t be able to take part in any events which is related to federated soccer.
Panama: Panamanian Football Federation said that FIFA had banned its chief #ManuelArias from performing his functions for six months for calling a player “fat.” #FIFA Ethics committee took decision on Thursday.
Federation president Arias was banned for using “inappropriate… pic.twitter.com/TNgM9Sj1xf
— Timeline. (@timelinelatest) January 17, 2025
The ban sees Arias removed from a series of men’s national team games which are in the CONCACAF region. These namely include the Nations League games on March 2nd 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to take place in June and the Gold Cup tournament organized in the USA between June 14th and July 6th.
Panama had managed to reach the final of the men’s 2023 Gold Cup ultimately losing to Mexico. In only their second-ever Copa America appearance in 2024, the side managed to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament ultimately losing to Colombia.
Arias on Thursday took to social media and said that the comments from March 2024 that had led to his ban were “unfortunate” and regretted the use of the language. The Federation noted that vice president Fernando Arce will be acting as interim leader until the ban ceases, acknowledging that there was still work needed in women’s football.
Cox has recently signed for Turkish team Fenerbahce having played for Xolos in Mexico. The 27-year-old had scored during her side’s 6-3 loss to France in the group stage of the Women’s World Cup in what was the side’s maiden appearance in the tournament.
Panama football federation president Manual Arias had called Marta Cox “fat” following latter’s criticism on the 2023 Women’s World Cup national team. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
