PANAMA CITY, Jan 17, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The Panamanian Football Federation
said Thursday FIFA had banned its boss Manuel Arias from performing his
functions for six months for calling a player "fat."

Federation president Arias was sanctioned for using "inappropriate language"
about Marta Cox who plays for the Panama national team and for Turkey's
Fenerbahce club.

Arias had called the 27-year-old "fat" to reporters in March 2023 after the
player criticized women's football in Panama, which has an amateur league
where most players do not receive a salary or have access to proper stadiums
or training facilities.

"She is out of shape, she's fat, she couldn't move on the field," Arias said
at the time.

Cox threatened to leave the national team, prompting Arias to apologize.

He has described his choice of words as "very unfortunate" and said Thursday
he accepted the sanction for a "serious error committed."