"Days after Panama qualified for the 2026 World Cup, FIFA banned the country's federation president for failing to respect a previous ban imposed for fat-shaming a women's national team star. FIFA said Manuel Arias was "banned from all football-related activity for six months," a ban that will expire about four weeks before the World Cup kicks off in the United States, Mexico and Canada."
"FIFA said its disciplinary judges also imposed a fine of 20,000 Swiss francs ($25,000) on the Panamanian official for not complying with its ethics committee's previous ruling that banned him for six months into July. No details were given of how he breached the ban. Arias suggested Marta Cox was "fat" after she made critical comments about the setup at the national team, which qualified for the 2023 Women's World Cup. He acknowledged his "unfortunate" comments in March 2024."
FIFA imposed a six-month ban on Panama federation president Manuel Arias from all football-related activity and barred him from the World Cup draw on Dec. 5. The ban will expire about four weeks before the 2026 World Cup kickoff in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Disciplinary judges also fined Arias 20,000 Swiss francs for not complying with a prior ethics committee ruling that banned him for six months into July. Arias had described Marta Cox as "fat" after she criticized the national team setup and later acknowledged his "unfortunate" comments in March 2024. Arias can appeal the sanctions. Panama qualified for the men's World Cup by beating El Salvador 3-0.
Read at ESPN.com
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