Australia’s campaign to have Football Federation Australia Director and former Matilda Moya Dodd elected to the FIFA Executive Committee received a significant boost.
Australia-s campaign to have Football Federation Australia Director and former Matilda Moya Dodd elected to the FIFA Executive Committee received a significant boost last week with a ringing endorsement from newly elected AFC President Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa at the AFC Congress held in Kuala Lumpur last Friday.
Dodd also received support from the floor of the Congress, with Kuwait Football Association (KFA) delegates urging that the AFC should demonstrate its commitment to continued unity by unanimously supporting her for the FIFA Executive Committee. The comment was met with loud applause.
Dodd was re-elected unopposed as AFC Vice-President last week at the AFC Congress, attended by FIFA President Joseph S Blatter, and other Confederation Presidents Jeffrey Webb (CONCACAF), Michel Platini (UEFA) and David Chung (OFC).
Addressing the 47 football nations attending the AFC Congress, President Blatter praised AFC for the progress it has made in promoting women to senior leadership positions on the Executive Committee, and noted that FIFA-s reform process includes positions for female representatives on its Executive Committee.
“What a realisation after 108 years, what patience for the women and what a stubborn organisation for men not to accept women in their organisation - but this will be changed now,” said Blatter.
Dodd was delighted with the widespread support, saying: "I-m delighted to have the confidence of a unified Asia, and I am working hard to persuade the rest of the football world too. Football will be better, fairer and stronger with women more involved, and I would love to make a contribution at FIFA-s top table.”
Dodd is a former vice-captain of the Matildas, with an international playing career that spanned nine years from 1986 - 1995. She is currently a Partner at Gilbert+Tobin lawyers, having worked in law, media and economic consulting, and has an Executive MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management.
The vote for the FIFA Executive Committee Female Member will be conducted at the FIFA Congress in Mauritius on 31 May 2013, among all FIFA-s member associations globally.