Panama’s Soccer Coach Gets Suspended For 6 Months After Calling A Player “Fat”

MARTIN BERNETTI. Getty Images.

Source — 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.

Mark Metcalfe – FIFA. Getty Images.

6 months. SIX months. Half of an entire goddamn year because he called a player fat? In 2023, no less! 2 years ago at this point. 

Obviously the big “issue” here is that Manuel Arias is the coach of the Panamanian women’s national team. If he calls a player on the men’s team fat, then he’s this hilarious character who doesn’t mince his words. But because he’s talking about an athlete on the women’s team here, it’s a 6 month suspension for “inappropriate language”. 

There’s been a massive push over the years for equality in women’s sports. It’s a movement that I fully support. I think sports are easily one of the most important pillars of society. For men and women alike. But it’s tough to get women to seriously pursue sports as a career if the money isn’t there for them. Some of these women are obscenely talented, but there hasn’t always been the platform for them to demonstrate to the world how nasty they are at these sports. We’re starting to see more and more female superstars now. 

I’m just saying that if we want women’s sports to succeed, then you also can’t be afraid to treat them the same way you’d treat any male athlete. Think about how many times Joel Embiid is constantly called a fat ass who shows up to camp out of shape every year. Has anybody ever been suspended for that? No. Because Joel Embiid is an athlete who has certain expectations placed on his physical abilities. The same way you’d expect a member of the Panamanian national women’s soccer team to be in shape to perform physically. 

@JordieBarstool

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