Australia has its first representative on football's world governing body, FIFA, with Moya Dodd co-opted to its executive committee on Friday at its annual congress in Mauritius.

Sydney lawyer Dodd, 48, the vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation, was co-opted for one year to FIFA on a platform of "football first", inclusion and governance.

Trailblazer: FIFA Executive Committee candidate Moya Dodd. Credit:Marco Del Grande

Burundi's Lydia Nsekera became the first woman elected to FIFA and will serve a four-year term. She beat Dodd 95 votes to 70. Sonia Bien-Aime (Turks & Caicos Islands) received 38 votes and was also co-opted to the exco for a year. New Zealander Paula Kearns withdrew before the vote.

Inside World Football website reported before the vote that African candidate Nsekera had the backing of FIFA president Sepp Blatter. One of Dodd's supporters told that 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."