Sponsors worried by FIFA allegations

ADIDAS    WORLD CUP   FIFA

Global - FIFA sponsors Coca-Cola and Adidas have expressed concerns over the controversy surrounding the world football governing body's ethics.

Adidas has sponsored FIFA for more than 30 years, supplying official match balls as well as sportswear for players and referees. "The negative tenor of the public debate around FIFA at the moment is neither good for football nor for FIFA and its partners," said a spokesman for Adidas.

The Coca-Cola Company is one of the longest-standing corporate partners of FIFA, having had stadium advertising at every FIFA World Cup since 1950. Coca-Cola has been an official sponsor of the World Cup since 1978. A spokesperson for Coca-Cola said: "The current allegations being raised are distressing and bad for the sport."

FIFA has suspended executive committee members over allegations of bribery during the voting procedure which saw the 2022 World Cup tournament awarded to Qatar. Among those under scrutiny is Mohammed Bin Hammam, who lead the Qatar bid and until recently was a candidate to become president of the organisation.

Fellow sponsors Visa and Emirates have refused to comment and are keeping their distance from the row.

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