Paris – While Fifa seem to content to ignore calls for reform in the wake of this week’s corruption scandal, their money-makers are growing increasingly worried about how their images will suffer if they stay in the game.
US soft-drinks giant Coca-Cola, sponsor of the football World Cup since 1978, said Tuesday they found allegations of corruption at the heart of Fifa “distressing”.
“The current allegations being raised are distressing and bad for the sport,” Coca Cola spokesman Petro Kacur told AFP.
“We have every expectation that Fifa will resolve this situation in an expedient and thorough manner.”
Fifa has been plunged into crisis by accusations and counter-claims of corruption in its highest echelons.
Two executive board members were suspended on the weekend over allegations of corruption, including Asian football chief Mohamed bin Hammam, whose withdrawal from Wednesday's presidency election has left incumbent Sepp Blatter as the sole candidate.
Meanwhile, Adidas, the world's second biggest sportswear and equipment group, fears for the image of football in the wake of the turmoil gripping Fifa, a spokesman for the German company and long-term Fifa partner said Tuesday.
"The repeated accusations (of corruption) are good for neither the image of football nor Fifa itself," the spokesman said, adding however that "events do not bring into question our cooperation (with Fifa)".
Adidas one of Fifa's main commercial partners and has long provided the official match ball for the four-yearly World Cup as well as the referees' kit. – Sapa-AFP