MANAMA: Moya Dodd has promised she will not give up on her campaign to promote women in football despite failing in a bid to win eletion from Asia to the FIFA Council on Monday writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

The Australian lawyer lost 27-17 to Bangladesh’s Mahfuza Akhtar Kiron in the vote at an election congress of the Asian Football Federation which is hosting ‘FIFA Week’ in Manama.

Dodd remains a member of the AFC executive committee, chair of the women’s committee and a member of the Asian Cup organising committee and the FIFA player status committee.

After congratulating Kiron, Dodd insisted: “There are many challenges ahead . . . Naturally I’m disappointed that I wasn’t able to return to the FIFA Council. I had hoped, through my policies and track record at FIFA, to persuade enough voting delegates to give me the job, but clearly that wasn’t the case.

“Today’s election came after many conversations with delegates over the last year since my co-opted term expired last Congress in Mexico. We talked about the possibilities for growth of the women’s game and acceptance of women in football.

“This time wasn’t wasted – part of the democratic process is for us all to discuss our hopes and beliefs, and I’m confident that these many discussions will help build the foundations of progress.

“That said, I’m proud of the contribution I made – with others – in FIFA over recent years, most especially through the FIFA Women’s Football Taskforce.

“Seeing the Ten Principles of Women’s Football Development being picked up around the world, the amazing work of participants on the Female Leadership and Development Program, and the adoption of FIFA’s gender equality reforms (including today, into the AFC Statutes) gives me great encouragement that the work we did will continue to make a positive impact.”

Dodd, in a statement on her Facebook page, concluded: “In football, the ball doesn’t stop rolling for long, and there are many ways to contribute to our game. Thanks to you all who have sent messages . . .  retain great faith in the future success of our game. I, like you, hope to be part of it.”

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