Two of world football’s biggest sponsors, Coca-Cola and Adidas, have warned that allegations of corruption at the sport’s governing body could damage the game.

The long-term corporate backers have voiced concern over the controversy that has seen senior members of FIFA’s executive committee accused of bribery.

A spokesman for Coca-Cola says: “The current allegations being raised are distressing and bad for the sport.”

Adidas says it remains committed to its sponsorship deal with FIFA but that the “negative tenor of the public debate around FIFA at the moment is neither good for football nor for Fifa and its partners.”

Coca-Cola and Adidas, along with other backers such as Visa and Emirates, invest millions in the sport as well as providing services during the four-yearly World Cup. Other sponsors have yet to comment.

Allegations of corruption have beset FIFA since the vote to decide the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup’s took place last year. Executive committee members Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner have been provisionally been suspended by FIFA’s ethics committee for allegedly offering financial incentives in exchange for votes.

Despite the controversy, FIFA President Sepp Blatter yesterday (30 May) denied that there was crisis in world soccer “only difficulties”. Blatter is expected to be re elected to the post tomorrow (1 June) after his only rival Bin Hammam withdrew from the race.

Source: marketingweek.co.uk

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