In the 2004 Athens Olympics, Domínguez led the Mexican women's Olympic soccer team to the quarter-finals. Later in 2004, she accepted a two year contract from a second division Mexican men's football club Atlético Celaya. This was a previously unprecedented move. The Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación did not object, but deferred to FIFA headquarters in Zurich for an official ruling.
A statement from FIFA ruled against mixed-sex football teams. From the report: "There must be a clear separation between men's and women's football." Furthermore, a ban was placed on Domínguez appearing in an exhibition game outside the league but still alongside men.
"I just wanted to be given the chance to try," Domínguez said. "If I failed I would have been the first to say I can't do it, the first to admit it doesn't work. But at least I would have tried."
In 2002 Maribel immigrated to the US to play with Kansas City Mystics. In her first year with the WPS, Women's Professional Soccer, scored 17 goals and was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
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