Four of FIFA's biggest sponsors demanded on Friday night that President Sepp Blatter step down immediately from his position as head of world football, according to Oliver Kay of the LONDON TIMES. Coca-Cola and McDonald's were joined by Visa and Budweiser "in calling on Blatter to quit." Blatter issued a statement through lawyers, saying that resigning now "would not be in the best interest" of FIFA. In June Blatter agreed to stand down, but he has maintained he will "not depart until February despite being questioned by Swiss authorities" over an alleged "disloyal payment" to UEFA President Michel Platini, widely seen as being "most likely to succeed him." Blatter, 79, has "so far ignored all calls" to bring forward his departure (LONDON TIMES, 10/3). In London, Owen Gibson reported adidas, FIFA's oldest sponsor, and South Korean car company Kia have "declined so far to join four other major backers" in pressuring Blatter to resign immediately. Adidas declined to follow its fellow sponsors in calling for Blatter to "go immediately rather than limping on until February." FIFA's two other main sponsors, Kia and Gazprom, were the "only ones who did not attend a summit meeting" called by FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke in the wake of May’s arrests to "try and allay the concerns of sponsors" as the organization "went into meltdown." Valcke himself "has since been suspended." Given that FIFA's main sponsors contribute $1.6B toward its $5.7B revenues over each four-year cycle and their brands "are at risk when tainted by corruption allegations, a rebellion by sponsors has long been seen as one of the most likely levers for change" (GUARDIAN, 10/3). REUTERS' Rosenberg & Evans reported AB InBev said it has been "actively engaged" in the FIFA reform process as part of a group of sponsors. Coca-Cola said, "Every day that passes, the image and reputation of FIFA continues to tarnish. FIFA needs comprehensive and urgent reform, and that can only be accomplished through a truly independent approach." McDonald's said, "The events of recent weeks have continued to diminish the reputation of FIFA and public confidence in its leadership." Last Friday, the Swiss Office of the Attorney General said that it opened a criminal investigation into Blatter "on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation of funds." It was the first time that authorities investigating corruption at FIFA "had pointed the finger directly at Blatter" (REUTERS, 10/3).
STANDING FIRM: In London, Chris Johnston reported FA President Greg Dyke said that the sponsors' move was a "game-changer." Dyke: "It doesn’t matter what Mr. Blatter says now -- if the people who pay for FIFA want a change they will get a change. It isn't just about Mr. Blatter standing down -- it's about making sure there is a comprehensive and effective reform program. So for those of us who want fundamental change this is good news" (GUARDIAN, 10/3).
BLATTER'S DAUGHTER WEIGHS IN: REUTERS' Tom Miles reported Blatter's daughter said that he will "definitely not" stay on as president of FIFA after the election of a new leader in February. Stoehlker said last week that Blatter had "not ruled out trying to stay on" beyond the Feb. 26 vote. But Corinne Blatter-Andenmatten said in an interview published by Swiss newspaper Blick am Sonntag on Sunday that there was "no way" he would continue, and "at some point he would publish his memoirs." She said, "I know he wants to quit, and he will do it." She added that he had stayed on because the majority of FAs wanted him to, and because "he never runs away when the going gets tough." She declined to discuss the possibility of her father ending up in jail, saying, "I don't even want to think about it. It's inconceivable to me that he would have to go to prison." She blamed the media for "ruining her father's reputation and said Swiss prosecutors appeared to have prejudged him" (REUTERS, 10/4).
