With 95 of the 203 valid votes, the Burundi Football Association President and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member is the first female to have voting rights in FIFA's 109-year history - a privilege she will now maintain until 2017.

The other challengers, Australia's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) vice-president Moya Dodd, who garnered 70 votes, and Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association secretary general Sonia Bien-Aime, who received 38 votes, will also join FIFA's top table as co-opted members on a one-year term.

The 46-year-old Nsekera, already a member of FIFA Committees for women's football and the Women's World Cup, had been widely considered as the favourite for the position, having held a seat on the Executive Committee on an interim mandate since the FIFA Congress in Budapest in May 2012.

"I will inspire women to believe they can lead, I will push them to let their girls play football because it is a school of life, and I will support women in the member associations," Nsekera promised.


Her appointment today sees FIFA President Sepp Blatter finally delivering on his promise to add a much-needed female voice to the top table of world football after he was elected to lead the body for a fourth and final term in 2011.

The initiative formed part of his reform process to clean up FIFA after it lost a string of powerbrokers following bribery and corruption scandals that rocked the organisation to the core.

FIFA also approved tough new measures to combat racism and discrimination at today's meeting.

A 99 per cent majority of members approved the motion, which will see first or minor offenders hit with a warning, fine or the playing of a match behind closed doors and re- or serious offenders facing punishment for their teams, including points deductions, expulsion from a given competition or relegation.


FIFA also said that any individual involved in racist or discriminatory behaviour will be subject to a five-game ban, while specialist officials will be in stadiums to identify potential acts of racism or discrimination.

"We have been through a difficult time," Blatter said.

"It has been a test for the world of football and for those who lead it.

"There have been despicable events this year that have cast a long shadow over football and the rest of society.

"I am speaking of the politics of hate – racism, ignorance, discrimination, intolerance, small-minded prejudice.

"That uncivilised, immoral and self-destructive force that we all detest."

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that Britain's long-term FIFA Executive Committee seat will be retained despite the abolition of the British vice-presidency.

The four British associations of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will now exercise their influence on the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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