'Blatter refuses to stand down'
The three high profile sponsors have asked the
world governing body's chief to step down after
criminal proceedings were opened by Swiss
authoritiesSepp Blatter insists he will not resign as
Fifa president, despite coming under fire from
three of the organisation's biggest sponsors, Coca
Cola, McDonald's and Visa.
The corruption scandal engulfing world football's
governing body last week caught up with Blatter,
as criminal proceedings were opened against him
by Swiss authorities on suspicion of criminal
mismanagement and misappropriation.
Coca Cola and Visa - headline Fifa partners - as
well as World Cup sponsor McDonald's have
previously expressed their concern over the
numerous revelations of corruption and
mismanagement.
But both companies have now called for tough
action to be taken, demanding Blatter step down
immediately from a role that he is set to relinquish
regardless in February.
A McDonald's statement claimed "it would be in
the best interest of the game for Fifa President
Sepp Blatter to step down immediately", while
McDonald's said "every day that passes, the
image and reputation of Fifa continues to tarnish",
and Visa added "we believe no meaningful reform
can be made under Fifa’s existing leadership".
However, a statement released via Blatter's legal
team after Coca Cola's initial release read: "While
Coca Cola is a valued sponsor of Fifa, Mr Blatter
respectfully disagrees with its position and
believes firmly that his leaving office now would
not be in the best interest of Fifa nor would it
advance the process of reform and therefore, he
will not resign."
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