On a day when FIFA made persuasive moves towards inclusivity, president Sepp Blatter risked criticism for comments made while congratulating the new female members of the executive committee.
Lydia Nsekera, president of the Burundi Football Association, became the first woman to be handed a full four-year mandate on the powerful Ex-Co when she won a vote at the 63rd FIFA Congress in Mauritius.
The other candidates for the historic position, Asian Football Confederation vice-president Moya Dodd and CONCACAF representative Sonia Bien-Aime, were co-opted to the committee for a one-year period.
During his closing remarks, Blatter appealed for a round of applause for the trio, adding: "Are there ladies in the room? Say something! You are always speaking at home, now you can speak here."
The 77-year-old Swiss raised eyebrows on Thursday when he described Dodd as "good looking".
Source: PA
