By Mike Esterl
Several of FIFA's big corporate sponsors including Coca-Cola
Co., Visa Inc. and Adidas AG said they welcomed the resignation of
the soccer governing body's president amid a wide-ranging
corruption scandal, and urged the organization to enact swift
reforms to restore its credibility.
Coke said in a statement Tuesday that FIFA President Sepp
Blatter's decision to step down is "a positive step for the good of
sport, football and its fans." The beverage company added, "We
believe this decision will help FIFA transform itself rapidly into
a much-needed 21st century structure and institution."
Coke has been sponsoring FIFA since 1978 and its deal runs until
2030. A Coke spokesman said Tuesday the company didn't pressure Mr.
Blatter to resign, nor did it have prior knowledge of Mr. Blatter's
decision.
But Coke did send a formal letter to FIFA expressing concern
after U.S. authorities last week indicted 14 people linked to the
organization on corruption-related charges. The letter urged FIFA
to take concrete actions, although it didn't specify which actions,
according to a person close to Coke.
Other big sponsors echoed Coke's sentiments. Visa Inc. said it
is "encouraged by the recognition by FIFA that extensive and
fundamental reform is needed" and added, "more work lies
ahead."
"Transparency, integrity and fair play must be the hallmarks of
the new administration and Visa stands ready to work with FIFA
towards these principles," the company said in a statement. "We
repeat, however, that it is our expectation that FIFA will take
swift and immediate steps towards addressing the issues within its
organization to quickly rebuild a culture with strong ethical
practices."
Sponsors have been a major source of cash for FIFA, and their
voice carries great weight, sports marketing experts say. FIFA
collected $1.6 billion in sponsorship money in the four years
leading up to the 2014 World Cup, nearly half of which came from
its six top "partners," according to research firm IEG, a unit of
ad giant WPP. Sponsors also spend money on TV ads on networks
around the world that air soccer matches. Overall, FIFA took in
$5.72 billion in the 2014 cycle.
Adidas said it welcomed "FIFA's commitment to change" and said
the resignation of Mr. Blatter "marks a step in the right direction
on FIFA's path to establish and follow transparent compliance
standards in everything they do."
McDonald's said the corruption allegations surrounding FIFA have
"overshadowed the game and taken away from the sport" and added
that new leadership will be "a big first step in positively
reforming the organization."
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV, which has been a FIFA sponsor since the
1986 World Cup, said it expects Tuesday's resignation by Mr.
Blatter to "accelerate" the organization's efforts to "install
positive change."
"We look forward to the beauty of the game taking center-stage
again for football fans around the globe," AB InBev said in a
statement. In 2011, the company extended its sponsorship through
the 2018 and 2022 World Cup competitions.
Tripp Mickle, Ellen Emmerentze Jervell and Robin Sidel
contributed to this article.
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