Sources said that Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is "discussing becoming a top sponsor of FIFA," a partnership that would strengthen the ties between China’s power brokers and global football’s top execs, according to Tariq Panja of BLOOMBERG. Alibaba would become the second Chinese company to commit to football's governing body at a high level "after Dalian Wanda Group Co. signed up earlier this year." A sponsorship deal has not been finalized and details are not known. It could "involve any of the group’s subsidiaries or affiliates." For example, Alibaba E-Auto is the title sponsor of the FIFA Club World Cup. Alibaba Sports spokesperson Wang Jingyi said that the company has "been in touch with FIFA because of the affiliation with the Club World Cup." A FIFA representative said that the organization does not "comment on speculation about commercial negotiations." FIFA has "struggled to sign sponsors in the wake of a corruption scandal that led to charges against several senior officials" (BLOOMBERG, 5/18).
