FIFA To Meet Commercial Partners To Discuss Reforms Of Governing Body

A source close to FIFA said that the governing body "will meet some of its leading commercial partners on Thursday to discuss reforms," according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. The meeting will take place in Zurich "although no further details were available." FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke said last month that Coca-Cola, Visa and McDonald's "had written asking for information about what was being done to clean up governance of the sport and offering to meet soccer's ruling body." Valcke's announcement came after Coca-Cola and Visa "urged FIFA to support the creation of an independent body to reform the way it is run." Visa and McDonald's "did not initially respond to requests for comment on the meeting" (REUTERS, 8/18).