FIFA has punished the federation president for his disgraceful remarks towards a female footballer.
FIFA has handed down a six-month suspension to Manuel Arias, president of Panama’s Football Federation (FEPAFUT), following controversial comments about Marta Cox, a key player in the women’s national team.
The shocking remarks have sparked outrage across the sporting community, with FIFA taking decisive action against fat-shaming.
Panama Football President banned for disgraceful remark
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Marta Cox was fat-shamed by the Panamanian football president | Imago
Manuel Arias landed in hot water after making derogatory comments about Marta Cox, referring to the star midfielder as “fat” earlier this year.
The remarks came in the wake of Cox publicly criticising the national team’s setup, following Panama’s historic qualification for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
While the women’s team made strides on the global stage, Arias’ behaviour has cast a shadow over their achievements.
On Thursday evening, the Panamanian Football Federation announced FIFA’s decision to suspend Arias from all football-related activities until 14th July 2025.
The ban sidelines him from key men’s national team events, including Concacaf Nations League matches in March, two 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June, and the prestigious Gold Cup tournament set to take place in the United States this summer.
With Arias out of the picture, FEPAFUT vice president Fernando Arce has stepped in as interim leader, tasked with steadying the ship amidst growing scrutiny over the federation’s handling of women’s football.
Manuel Arias issues apology
Manuel Arias, the suspended president of the Panama Football Federation | AFP
Following the suspension, ESPN reported that Arias took to X (formerly Twitter) to express regret over his remarks.
“I used some very unfortunate language that should never be used,” he admitted. Amidst the scandal, Marta Cox continues to shine on the pitch.
Marta Cox scored Panama’s first-ever Women’s World Cup goal against France | Imago
The 27-year-old, who recently signed with Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, has refused to let the controversy derail her career.
She previously impressed at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, scoring a memorable goal in Panama’s group-stage clash against France.
Cox has not publicly responded to Arias’ remarks, but fans and players alike have rallied behind her, applauding her resilience and professionalism during such challenging times.
Wow this is really bad ,why will he do such a thing, FIFA did well
He really need to leave and really bad for him