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Top sponsors call for Blatter's immediate resignation

Leading backers of world football's governing body Fifa have demanded the immediate departure of boss Sepp Blatter. The sponsors' move could signal the end of Blatter's reign

Several of Fifa's leading sponsors have called for Sepp Blatter to stand down as president.
Several of Fifa's leading sponsors have called for Sepp Blatter to stand down as president. Reuters/Sergio Moraes
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Crumbs of comfort came to the beleaguered Fifa boss Sepp Blatter on Saturday when Addidas declined to join four other leading sponsors in demands for his resignation.

Instead the sportswear and equipment manufacturer urged reform of world football’s governing body.

"As we have frequently stressed in the past, fundamental changes in the interest of football must be made," company spokesperson Oliver Brueggen told German news agency DPA. "That is why the reform process that has begun must continue transparently and quickly."   

In separate statements issued one week after criminal proceedings were launched in Swizerland against Blatter, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Visa and Budweiser all called on the 79-year-old to step down.

It is the first time that Fifa’s powerful financial backers – who have injected hundreds of millions of euros into the organisation – have called explicitly for Blatter to resign.

In a statement issued by his American lawyer in reaction to the sponsor demands, Blatter vowed to remain in office.

Attorney Richard Cullen said the Fifa chief had no plans to relinquish his position.

"He 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," said Cullen’s statement. 

Coca-Cola said Blatter’s 17 year reign as head of Fifa was untenable following the corruption scandal that has engulfed the body.

"For the benefit of the game, the Coca-Cola Company is calling for Fifa president Joseph Blatter to step down immediately so that a credible and sustainable reform process can begin in earnest," the soft-drinks giant said. "Every day that passes, the image and reputation of Fifa continues to tarnish. Fifa needs comprehensive and urgent reform and that can only be accomplished through a truly independent approach."

McDonald's said the recent wave of headlines meant that Blatter, who had vowed to remain in the post until the election of his successor early next year, could not continue.

"The events of recent weeks have continued to diminish the reputation of Fifa and public confidence in its leadership," the US fast-food leader said. "We believe it would be in the best interest of the game for Fifa president Sepp Blatter to step down immediately so that the reform process can proceed with the credibility that is needed."

Visa meanwhile cast doubt on Blatter's ability to clean up the allegations of sleaze.

"We believe no meaningful reform can be made under Fifa's existing leadership. And, given the events of last week, it's clear it would be in the best interests of Fifa and the sport for Sepp Blatter to step down immediately," Visa said.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, whose Budweiser beer has been a Fifa sponsor since the 1980s, also joined the calls, saying Blatter's continued presence was "an obstacle in the reform process".

A Fifa spokesperson declined to comment on the sponsor's demands.

Swiss prosecutors say Blatter is the target of an inquiry into "criminal mismanagement" at Fifa focusing on a 2005 television rights sale to the Caribbean Football Union and a payment of 1.5 million euros in 2011 to Michel Platini, the boss of European football’s governing body Uefa.

Both Blatter and Platini have denied any wrongdoing.

News that criminal proceedings had been opened against Blatter last week deepened the crisis that erupted in May, when the US justice department indicted 14 people over bribery in football deals worth more than 133 million euros dating back to 1991.

Aside from an open criminal file against its president, nine Fifa officials have been charged in the United States.

Blatter's former right-hand man, secretary general Jerome Valcke, was suspended last month over allegations that he was aware of a black-market ticket scheme surrounding the 2014 World Cup. Valcke denies the claims.

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