- The corruption scandal engulfing FIFA is having corporate sponsors ponder whether to back away from the powerful marketing outlet, although severing ties will not likely be easy.
- Visa (NYSE:V) said it wants sweeping changes at FIFA and could otherwise end its agreement, which runs until 2022. Other top sponsors such as Adidas (OTCQX:ADDYY), McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) and Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) also expressed deep concerns.
- FIFA collected $1.6B in sponsorship money in the four years leading up to the 2014 World Cup, nearly half of which came from its six top "partners" (the four mentioned above, Emirates and Hyundai (OTCPK:HYMLF)).
- Meanwhile, Sepp Blatter is expected to secure re-election as FIFA President today, despite the many calls for him to step down.