FIFA admit to fresh sponsorship crisis with no new backers expected until Sepp Blatter steps down as president
By CHARLES SALE FOR THE DAILY MAIL
FIFA were in sponsorship crisis on Friday night with world football’s tarnished ruling body admitting they didn’t expect any new backers to come on board until after Sepp Blatter leaves.
This comes after top-tier sponsor Visa followed Coca Cola in demanding an independent commission to oversee FIFA reforms. Visa CEO Charles Scharf called FIFA’s response to the corruption scandal ‘wholly inadequate and continues to show its lack of awareness of the seriousness of the changes which are needed.’
FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke said he expects the sponsorship void – ongoing since the mass arrests in May – to last until the presidential election next February. He has called an emergency meeting of current backers next month to keep them on board. Visa’s strong statement is a particular triumph for Jaimie Fuller, leader of action group ‘New FIFA Now’.
PUBLISHED: 22:32, 24 July 2015
