FIFA's crisis "has caused a sponsorship 'black hole' which is so acute that 27 out of 34 slots for potential partners remained unfilled," according to the PA. The corruption scandal "has proved so toxic that no new sponsors have joined since well before the 2014 World Cup, while several have severed all ties with the world governing body including top partners Sony and Emirates." Out of 14 tier one and tier two partner slots, "only seven are currently filled." Efforts to find 20 regional sponsors -- four from each continent -- "have failed completely." The loss of income has had a drastic effect on FIFA's finances -- it has forecast making a deficit of £67M ($101M) for '15, "the first time it will have made a loss since 2001." FIFA Marketing Dir Thierry Weil said, "FIFA is in contact with various companies and potential sponsors, but we are also realistic, and understand that until reforms are passed at the extraordinary congress, and a new president is elected, that it will be challenging to sign new partnerships" (PA, 12/5).
