Women's football pioneer found brutally murdered
The football world is in shock after the murder of a highly-regarded female coach.
Mar Ibarra’s body was found on Tuesday in El Rosarito, Baja California in Mexico.
She had previously been reported missing, and authorities said they believed she’d been beaten to death.
Ibarra founded amateur women’s team Isamar FC, using her own funds to get the team off the ground.
The 44-year-old gave young players in Baja California the chance to showcase their skills, before becoming a founder, executive, and coach of Club Tijuana Femenil.
She was also involved with Liga MX’s Club Tijuana, helping them become the first Mexican women’s team to play in a United States league in 2015.
She was highly instrumental in the career of her niece Fabiola Ibarra, who played for Mexico 2015 World Cup.
me duele mucho saber que ya no estás con nosotros☹️me quedo con todos los bonitos momentos que viví contigo y por todo lo que hiciste por mi, te estaré eternamente agradecida,eres la mejor amiga,la mejor tía y la mejor entrenadora!Te quiero muchísimo❤️descansa en paz @maribarra6 pic.twitter.com/9CVAdNaziD
— fabiola ibarra (@fabibarra0) October 17, 2018
Tributes have been flowing in on social media after the tragic news.
Una gran pena para el fútbol femenil. Nos quedamos sin una pieza importante en su desarrollo.
Pronta resignación para sus seres queridos.
¡Gracias por tanto Mar!
QEPD Marbella Ibarra pic.twitter.com/y5usmU6yTh
— MásQueUnaHincha (@masqueunahincha) October 17, 2018
Lamentamos el sensible fallecimiento de Mar Ibarra, estratega y directora deportiva. Precursora del fútbol femenil. Mandamos nuestras condolencias a su familia y amigos. Q.E.P.D. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/15dDnTEaIm
— Tiempo Extra MX (@Tiempo_ExtraMex) October 17, 2018
El fútbol Femenil se viste de luto tras el sensible fallecimiento de la DT Mar Ibarra, ex entrenadora de @XolosFemenil
Nuestro más sentido pésame @bramlob18 @carlosfc20 @rodrigopeguero pic.twitter.com/IspdpZcrMx— @narradores_frontera (@Narradores_fron) October 17, 2018