Women's football advocate Moya Dodd of Australia "failed in a bid to gain a place on FIFA's ruling body" after she was beaten in a vote by Mahfuza Akhter of Bangladesh at the Asian Football Confederation Congress on Monday, according to Simon Evans of REUTERS. Dodd had previously been a co-opted member of FIFA's old exec committee and was a "leading voice promoting women's football within the global body." Ahkter beat Dodd by a 27-17 vote "after two other candidates for the woman's slot representing Asia on the FIFA Council withdrew before the ballot." Dodd said, "Naturally it is disappointing. I'd hoped I had done enough in the few years I was part of FIFA to persuade people that I should have another shot at it. I think I will always be an advocate for women's football ... there are still a lot of ways to contribute." Akhter is a member of the AFC's exec committee and women's football committee. The candidates for the three available Asian positions on the FIFA Council were all elected unopposed with Chinese FA General Secretary Zhang Jian, South Korea's Chung Mong-gyu and Mariana V. Araneta Jr. of the Philippines all joining FIFA's ruling body (REUTERS, 5/8).
