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FIFA corruption scandal

Sponsors say no changes yet in their contracts with FIFA

Visa and Coca-Cola remain FIFA sponsors

© EPA/ENNIO LEANZA

NEW YORK, June 9. /TASS/. FIFA longtime partners Visa and Coca-Cola have not abandoned their status of the football's governing body’s sponsors, the official representatives of the companies have told TASS.

Coca-Cola’s spokeswoman Ann Moore said on Monday the company has been constantly assessing all the relations in which it acts as a sponsor, but at the moment the soft drink giant has not revised the agreement.

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The company said it expects the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), which has been recently plagued by corruption and bribery scandal, to take particular and quick actions to restore confidence.

Visa, a US multinational financial services corporation, told TASS referring to CEO Charles Scharf that the company reminds its sponsored partners that they should ensure transparency and ethic norms. Otherwise, Visa may reassess its sponsorship plans.

McDonald's and Adidas have failed to comment to TASS on whether they will remain FIFA sponsors.

A spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson, Alexandra Holland, told TASS the company has decided not to renew the contract on a status of the official sponsor in the healthcare sphere for the 2018 World Cup. This decision comes due to reasons linked to business following an ordinary review of the contract that expired in 2014, she said.

Budweiser, which is also among FIFA sponsors, stressed that is important that the organisation should solve its internal issues, bring positive changes and comply with the highest norms of ethics and transparency.

An unprecedented corruption scandal flared up in FIFA on May 27 as seven of the organization’s high-ranking officials were arrested in Switzerland on bribery, money laundering and corruption charges.

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FIFA corruption scandal

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