FIFA has suspended the president of the Panama Football Federation for fat-shaming comments about the women’s national team’s star player.
Manual Arias has suggested midfielder Marta Cox is “fat” after making critical comments about the set-up of the national team that qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
“President Arias will not be able to participate in any activities related to the soccer federation for a period of six months until July 14, 2025,” the Panama Football Federation said in a statement late Thursday.
The ban will exclude Arias from a series of men’s national team matches in the CONCACAF region: a Nations League match in March, two 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June, and starting on June 14th. Gold Cup tournament in the United States scheduled for July 6th. They lost to Mexico in the 2023 Men’s Gold Cup.
Arias said on social media Thursday that his suspension was due to “unfortunate” comments he made in March 2024.
“I used a very unfortunate word that I should never have used,” Arias said on X (formerly Twitter).
The federation acknowledged that there was still work to be done in women’s football, announcing that vice-president Fernando Arce would serve as interim leader until the ban ends.
Cox recently signed with Fenerbahce in Turkey after playing for Xolos in Mexico. The 27-year-old scored in the 6-3 loss to France in the group stage of the Women’s World Cup.
