Moya Dodd loses FIFA election but gets co-opted to its Executive Committee

Football Federation Australia (FFA) Director and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Vice President Moya Dodd has been appointed as a member of the Executive Committee (ExCo) of world football governing body FIFA.

Although beaten in an election by Burundi's Lydia Nsekera, who will serve a four-year term, Dodd, a former international with the Matildas, was co-opted to the ExCo at the 2013 FIFA Congress in Mauritius.

Dodd joins 22 men and two other women (Sonia Bien-Aime of the Turks & Caicos Islands has also been co-opted) at football's top table, representing the six confederations made up of the 209 football playing nations.

Dodd was the only one of the three candidates with experience at confederation level and her biggest achievement was her role in the overturning last year of FIFA's headscarf rule, which had prevented Muslim women playing football.

The Inside World Football website had reported before the vote that African candidate Nsekera had the backing of FIFA President Sepp Blatter, with one of Dodd's supporters telling the website "it's all tied up in politics. Moya has by far the best credentials but it's all about wooing the African vote in advance of the next FIFA presidential election in 2015."

Speaking after her co-option, Dodd stated "I can't wait to get started in my new role.

"I commit myself to putting the interests of football first, strengthening its governance and promoting further development of inclusion in football, especially for women.

"I would like to acknowledge the strong support of my confederation the AFC, who had the faith to nominate me for a female position in the first place."

FFA Chairman Frank Lowy AO congratulated Moya Dodd on her elevation, stating "for the first time ever an Australian will sit at the top table of world football.

"As a former international who still plays football and life-long devotee of the game, Moya brings a passion to the role. As a lawyer and long-time administrator she brings experience and knowledge. The FIFA ExCo will benefit from her contribution."

Dodd grew up in Adelaide and made her senior playing debut for Port Adelaide aged 12. She was a vice-captain of the Matildas and participated in the first ever women's international tournament in 1988 in China.

She has an MBA and works as a solicitor for Gilbert+Tobin lawyers in Sydney. She continues to play football in an over-35s competition.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister for Sport Kate Lundy also congratulated Dodd on her achievement.

8th May 2013 - ASIAN FOOTBALL UNITES TO ENDORSE MOYA DODD