The pressure on Sepp Blatter’s ailing Fifa regime increased this morning as one of its leading sponsors threatened to withdraw its support unless it sees a commitment to reform.
After McDonald’s, adidas and Coca-Cola, three of the leading sponsors for the 2018 World Cup finals, last night expressed grave concern at the latest allegations of systemic corruption, Visa warned that it would “reassess” its sponsorship deal if Fifa did not deliver immediate change.
Blatter, who was not directly involved in the twin inquiries that resulted in seven senior past and present executives at Fifa being charged yesterday with systemic fraud, is standing for a fifth term as president. He has so far stood firm in the face of growing criticism of his regime, saying that