Visa becomes first FIFA sponsor to warn it may bolt
LONDON — Worried that their reputations will be tarnished by their links to FIFA, major sponsors are demanding that soccer’s global governing body clean up its act, with Visa even warning it is prepared to jump ship.
Coca-Cola Co. also made it clear it is unhappy with the scandals rocking the organization, which saw the head of European soccer, Michel Platini, urge FIFA President Sepp Blatter to step down Thursday.
Platini’s call came a day after seven officials were arrested in a dawn raid at a luxury hotel in Zurich as part of an American investigation into soccer corruption that involves bribery allegations over decades. Swiss prosecutors have also opened criminal proceedings into FIFA’s awarding of the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar.
Visa provided the most acute criticism, saying it expects FIFA to take “swift and immediate steps to address” its issues.
FIFA can’t ignore the criticism, as sponsors provide almost a third of its revenues.
As well as Coca-Cola and Visa, FIFA has other long-term partners, including Adidas, which has provided the match ball for every World Cup since 1970. The partners have the right to use official FIFA trademarks in their advertising campaigns, exposure in and around stadiums and protection against ambush marketing.
There are second-tier sponsors, too, such as Budweiser and McDonald’s, which pay to be involved during and around the World Cup tournaments themselves.
Beyond those corporations, there are companies that make deals with national soccer associations. Nike, for example, has paid for the right for Brazil to wear its shirts since 1996.
Though not directly linked to FIFA, Nike put out a statement in the wake of Wednesday’s raids. In the indictment, the Department of Justice mentioned a “multinational sportswear company headquartered in the United States” in connection with bribery allegations involving a deal with Brazil from 1996.
Without directly referring to speculation it is that multinational company, Nike said it was concerned by the “very serious allegations” and was cooperating with authorities.