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Born into a family whose parents and grandparents didn't play football, let alone have any interest in the game, Moya Dodd was not to be deterred.

In a sparkling career she went on to represent the Australian national team, is a qualified lawyer, former member of the FIFA Council and currently vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Moya has added another string to her bow and this week agreed to take on the role as Management Committee Chair of Common Goal, a charitable project created by streetfootballworld and Manchester United's Spanish ace, Juan Mata.

Common Goal quite simply aims to use the power of football to generate social change and improve people’s lives, with Juan kicking off the campaign by pledging 1 per cent of his salary, hoping that his fellow professional footballers would follow suit.

Speaking to theplayerstribune.com, Moya said: "I see many good people in the world of football governance who are working hard to improve our sport and the community around it. But I’ve also seen others who have betrayed the game and the positions of trust that they held. I know from experience that political dysfunction, as well as outright corruption, can hinder the amount of good that can be accomplished.

"Some of the recent scandals in football have done great damage to the legitimacy of the game’s governance. The damage is real. Our game, for so long the undisputed global king of team sports, now lives in a shadow of cynicism and mistrust.  

"And it’s taking a toll. I’ll never forget being part of the FIFA delegation that presented the trophy at the 2015 Women’s World Cup final in Vancouver. It was an experience to savour. But as we walked toward the podium, 50,000 people booed us.

"It wasn’t personal. It was fan feedback to an organisation they felt had failed them. If people lose faith in the structures of the game, our sport will suffer, and we should expect more negative reactions if we don’t go about making things better.

"The scandals and corruption we’ve seen do not represent the essence of football, or the values of the players who love this game. It’s time that we rebuild that trust among the football community.

"And that’s why I’m so excited to be joining Common Goal. The organisation is not only about developing football as a sport, but is also about football shaping society. And it is the players who are stepping up to make it happen.

"Through this new initiative, professional footballers pledge to donate 1% of their salaries to more than 100 grassroots football programmes.

"So far more than 30 players from six different continents have pledged to ', raising more than 500,000 euros ($609,825) since the movement launched in August 2017. We are confident that in 2018 we can raise more than 2 million euros ($2,439,300).

"In assisting these grassroots programmes, our mission is to support the U.N.’s sustainable development goals. Together, we want to help end world hunger, promote clean energy and end discrimination — among many other goals — through the beautiful game.

"Many of our donations will go to support worthy programmes around the world like America Scores, which empowers young people through football, creative writing and community service. Or Football United, which gives refugees in Australia a foothold in their new world.

"Here, the players are setting a new standard in the world of football. They are saying, 'We are not going to leave development to the governing bodies. Football encourages us to be better human beings. And now we are going to make the world better, through football'.

"This is players taking matters into their own hands.

"And I find that concept quite refreshing. It reminds me of my playing days, travelling with a rice cooker, and pioneering the world game for young women in the ’80s. Back then, there were so many days when you just had to make things happen on your own — even if that meant hanging your underwear from a ceiling fan.

"All in the name of a common goal."

For more information about Common Goal click here.

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