FIFA under pressure from leagues and sponsors

FIFA is increasingly under pressure from politicians and corporate sponsors. European football organizations are considering an election boycott. But President Blatter keeps his loyal following.

BY KYLE ANDREW BROWN

Zurich, May 28 – In better days the video clips of  four term FIFA president Sepp Blatter show him standing triumphantly before assembled FIFA delegates  – arms raised upward as if receiving the accolades of the cheering fans of Qatar 2016.

He canceled his scheduled Thursday appearances at the Medical Groups of FIFA and UEFA. The FIFA Congress in the late afternoon but Blatter will open as planned – as if nothing has happened says the German broadcaster ARD,

Minutes after Swiss police invaded the swank Zurich hotel to make their arrests of FIFA’s chieftans, four time President Blatter hollared out to the football world that he had nothing to do with the allegations of corruption.

This afternoon Blatter met behind closed doors for an unscheduled meeting with all six football confederations. An earlier meeting of the six member European umbrella association UEFA was cancelled. There are indications that UEFA may boycott the weekend’s scheduled election of FIFA’s presidency.

Former FIFA media director Guido Tognoni suggests that the “rump” assembly of delegates would likely reelect Blatter to a fifth term without the UEFA European association. But it would be an election “confronting challenging times.”

German elected officials have suddenly become outspoken about FIFA. Justice Minister Heiko Maas accused FIFA of lacking commitment in the investigation of suspected corruption. “FIFA has to face up to the  accusation that it has for years not really investigated corruption in its own ranks. The German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for full disclosure. “Corruption poisons politics and sport.”

Support for Blatter’s opponents

German broadcaster ARD reports that the South American confederation reports that the South American confederation CONMEBOL is weighing against Blatter’s reelction:

“Their voices would not be enough to Blatter to be dangerous. For Blatter has continued loyal supporters: The Asisatische Football Confederation reiterated its support for Blatter and rejected a possible postponement of the presidential election. Africa also apparently is more loyal to Blatter.”

Demands for Blatter’s resignation

Britain’s association is demanding Blatter’s resignation. Reports ARD: As long as Blatter is there, there was no way of restoring confidence in FIFA. Given the current situation said British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond of the BBC, at the FIFA course something “profoundly wrong”. International football needs  reform.”

“Even his French counterpart Laurent Fabius criticized FIFA. You should take your time and clarify “what is true and what is not”. He therefore called for a postponement of the election of Blatter.”

Sponsors put pressure on FIFA

Forbes has reported in the past that  FIFA’s major partners are Adidas, Coca-Cola , Emirates, Hyundai Motor Group, Sony and Visa. They reportedly pump in 25-50 million annually to FIFA.

“Added to that are FIFA’s World Cup sponsors, a group including global brands like Budweiser, Castrol, Continental, Johnson & Johnson and McDonald’s. Plus European organic food producer Moy Park, Brazilian telecom company Oi and Yingli Solar, the world’s largest solar panel manufacturer. Those second-tier sponsors pay in the range of $10-25 million per year.”

The Wall Street Journal reports that big corporate spending machines like VISA Inc., are putting enormous pressure on FIFA.  Corporate statements backed by their financial juggernaut far outweigh the orchestrated expressions of concern by politicians and national football governing bodies.

Says VISA:

“Our disappointment and concern with FIFA in light of today’s developments is profound.  As a sponsor, we expect FIFA to take swift and immediate steps to address these issues within its organization. This starts with rebuilding a culture with strong ethical practices in order to restore the reputation of the games for fans everywhere.”

At the moment VISA isn’t shouting that it is a “Proud Sponsor of the World Cup!“

Reporting by ARD.de contributed to this article.

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2015-05-28  9:35:41 AM