Ex-FIFA ExCom member criticizes Lima appointment

World soccer’s governing body FIFA’s choice of Brazilian fashion icon Adriana Lima as its first global fan ambassador five months before the Women’s World Cup was described on Tuesday as “tone deaf” by the former leader of the soccer body’s task force for women’s soccer.

Seriously, #FIFA, is this the fan engagement ambassador we need as the @FIFAWWC approaches? #tonedeaf https://t.co/a7O2WHRr6g pic.twitter.com/s2S6wvJmFx

— moya dodd (@moyadodd) February 28, 2023

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“Seriously, FIFA, is this the fan engagement ambassador we need as the (Women’s World Cup) approaches?” wrote Moya Dodd, who was part of the co-hosting bid campaign for her native Australia and New Zealand, on her Twitter account.

The Brazilian supermodel’s appointment to “develop, promote and participate in several global initiatives” was announced by FIFA on Monday hours before the former Victoria’s Secret runway model helped present the fan prize in Paris at its annual award ceremony.

Former FIFA executive committee member Dodd, a longtime advocate for women’s soccer, used the hashtag “tonedeaf” and posted the glamor photo from the profile of Lima’s Twitter account that has 2.4 million followers.