One In Three Germans Could Shun FIFA Sponsors, Prophet Survey Finds

A survey published on Wednesday said that around 38% of Germans would consider switching from FIFA sponsors such as adidas and Coca-Cola to "alternative brands" due to the corruption scandal engulfing football's governing body, according to Emma Thomasson of REUTERS. The survey of 1,000 Germans by marketing & brand consultancy Prophet found that 78% "thought companies should end their sponsorship of FIFA and instead invest more in local initiatives," with 45% saying the affair had hurt the sponsors' image. Prophet "did not say if the survey was commissioned by a client or carried out for its own benefit." Prophet consultant Tobias Baerschneider said that the FIFA scandal "could lead brands to rethink sponsorship deals and move to back smaller-scale regional competitions." Baerschneider: "That kind of sponsoring could be more sustainable and more interesting for some brands than the expensive and risky support of international big events" (REUTERS, 7/16).