World Cup sponsor McDonald’s "has joined Coca-Cola and Visa in urging FIFA to adopt an independent reform commission" in response to the scandals that have plagued world football’s governing body," according to Simon Evans of REUTERS.
The campaign group New FIFA Now on Thursday published an email from McDonald's saying the fast food company "supports the creation of an independent body to deal with FIFA’s problems." McDonald's VP of Global Media Relations & Issues Management Heidi Barker Sa Shekhem: "In regards to an independent reform commission, we do believe this is an important step in the greater reform that has to happen within FIFA." Previously, McDonald’s "had been critical of FIFA and urged change without specifically calling for an independent reform process." New FIFA Now co-Founder Jaimie Fuller: "We applaud McDonald’s for joining with Coca-Cola and Visa. They understand just how vital it is that reform of FIFA is independent of the deep vested interests surrounding the organization and its personnel." FIFA General Secretary Jérôme Valcke said that "he will meet with the organization's sponsors during August" (REUTERS, 8/6).
