Panama Football Chief Suspended For 'Fat-Shaming' A Player

Panama: Panamanian Football Federation said that FIFA had banned its chief Manuel Arias 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 language” about Marta Cox, a star striker in Panama national team and in Turkey’s Fenerbahce club.

Also Read | CBSE Conducts Surprise Inspections Across 5 States And A Union Territory

In March last year, while speaking to reporters, Arias has called Cox “fat” after she player criticised women’s football in Panama. Following the country being knocked out of the group stage of the Concacaf W Gold Cup  in February 2023, Tijuana player criticised the country’s facilities which has an amateur league where most players do not receive a salary or have access to proper stadiums or training centres.

In response to this criticism, Arias said: “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.”

Cox then threatened to quit the national team. “There were words used to describe me that certainly hurt me and were unexpected,” she said. The Panama football federations has apologised for Arias’ comments, adding that Arias has  “pledged that it will not be repeated”.

Also Read | Saif Ali Khan Attacked: Kareena Kapoor’s Request To Media, Paparazzi

Extending apology, Arias in a post on X said that his choice of words as “very unfortunate” and added that he accepted the sanction for a “serious error committed.”