• FIFA

Blatter calls female candidate 'good looking'

ESPN staff
May 29, 2013
Sepp Blatter has been criticised for comments about women in the past © Getty Images
Enlarge

Sepp Blatter has called Australia's female candidate for the FIFA executive committee "good and good looking" in an address to the Asian Football Confederation.

Blatter briefly addressed the AFC Congress meeting Wednesday, praising Moya Dodd, an AFC vice president and former Australia international player. She's one of four women vying for the seat on the top executive committee.

Back in 2004, Blatter was criticised by female footballers for comments he made saying women should wear tighter shorts to promote "a more female aesthetic."

"They could, for example, have tighter shorts. Female players are pretty, if you excuse me for saying so, and they already have some different rules to men - such as playing with a lighter ball. That decision was taken to create a more female aesthetic, so why not do it in fashion?" Blatter suggested at the time.

The AFC Congress meeting on Wednesday was Blatter's first public speech in Mauritius ahead of the world body's annual FIFA Congress.

Blatter also confirmed that he would ask the congress on Friday to suspend a decision on the introduction of age and term limits for high-ranking officials until at least next year.

Blatter reaffirmed FIFA's intention to introduce stronger punishments for racism.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices