Sponsors express FIFA concern

Dubai-based airline Emirates are the latest FIFA sponsors to express disappointment over the corruption allegations surrounding the body.

Coca-Cola and Adidas have already issued statements outlining their worries about the controversy, and Emirates today added their weight to the chorus of discontent.

It has been a tumultuous week for football’s governing body, with allegations that Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam offered incentives to Caribbean Football Union officials for their vote in the June 1 FIFA presidential election.

CONCACAF president Jack Warner was also implicated in the allegations, with the organisation’s general secretary Jerome Valcke and existing president Sepp Blatter coming under fire for pressing on with the election despite Bin Hammam’s withdrawal on Sunday and subsequent suspension.

Now, Emirates have expressed disappointment at the saga.

“Emirates, like all football fans around the world, are disappointed with the issues that are currently surrounding the administration of this sport,” Emirates divisional senior vice-president of corporate communications Boutros Boutros said.

“We hope that these issues will be resolved as soon as possible and the outcome will be in the interest of the game and sport in general.”

Coca-Cola said they expected FIFA to sort out their problems as soon as possible.

“The current allegations being raised are distressing and bad for the sport,” they said in a statement.

“We have every expectation that FIFA will resolve this situation in an expedient and thorough manner.”

Adidas reiterated their commitment to sponsoring the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but echoed the sentiments of Coca-Cola and Emirates that the current crisis was damaging to the game.

“Adidas enjoys a long-term, close and successful partnership with FIFA that we are looking forward to continuing,” a spokesman said.

“Adidas will be an official sponsor of FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil.”

“Having said that, the negative tenor of the public debate around FIFA at the moment is neither good for football nor for FIFA and its partners.”