- On Friday, major FIFA sponsors Budweiser, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Visa called on FIFA President Sepp Blatter to resign immediately in the wake of an ever-growing scandal at world soccer’s governing body.
- But Adidas, which has a decades-long commercial relationship with FIFA and has provided the soccer balls used in the World Cup since 1970, will not be joining the calls for Blatter to resign, at least for now.
“FIFA must implement fundamental changes for the sake of football,” Addidas told Associated Press “Therefore, the initiated reform process must continue quickly and transparently.”
- Same goes for Kia Motors, a FIFA sponsor since 1999.
- “We at Kia do not have any comment at the present time regarding Sepp Blatter or our current FIFA sponsorship status,” the South Korean firm said, again via the AP.
- Earlier this year, Blatter announced he would step down in February once his successor is chosen in a special election. He is being investigated for corruption by authorities in both the United States and his home country of Switzerland.
- Blatter’s U.S.-based attorney said Friday that Blatter has no plans to resign immediately.