The president of the Panamanian Football federation, Manuel Arias, has been suspended for six months after making derogatory comments about midfielder Marta Cox. Her remarks come after Cox expressed concerns about the current state of the national team, which successfully qualified for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
According to a statement from the Panamanian Football Federation, “President Arias has been suspended for six months, with effect until July 14, 2025, during which time he is prohibited from participating in any activity related to federal football.” The suspension means Arias will miss key matches for the men’s national team in the CONCACAF region, including Nations League matches in March, two World Cup qualifying matches in June, as well as the Gold Cup in the United States, scheduled for June 14 to July 6. Panama notably reached the final of the 2023 men’s Gold Cup, but was beaten by Mexico.
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FIFA suspends Panamanian Football Federation president for inappropriate comments
Speaking about the situation on social media, Arias called his March 2024 comments “unfortunate,” admitting, “I used some very unfortunate language that should never be used.”
In Arias’ absence, vice president Fernando Arce will take on the role of interim leader, with the federation recognizing the need to further develop women’s football.
-Marta Cox, who recently signed with Turkish club Fenerbahçe after a spell with the Xolos in Mexico, made her mark at the Women’s World Cup, scoring a goal in a 6-3 defeat to France in the group stage.
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