FIFA major sponsors Coke, Adidas say controversy is "bad" for the sport
Two of FIFA's largest corporate sponsors have released their statements regarding the bribing controversy surrounding the bidding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Coca Cola has been a corporate sponsor for the World Cup since 1978, while Adidas has been providing the league cash, support, products and sporting goods for 30 years.
Coca Cola and Adidas have both been a huge part of the World Cup promotion for over 30 years, and say Mohammed and Warner's bribing scandal is a negative light that unfortunately hit the sport. "The current allegations being raised are distressing and bad for the sport", says Coca Cola spokesperson Petro Kacur in an email sent to Reuters. "We have every expectation that FIFA will resolve this situation in an expedient and thorough manner" states Kakur in the same email.
A spokesperson for Adidas shares the same concerns. "The negative tonality of the public debate surrounding FIFA is neither good for football nor for FIFA and its partners," says the official in a separate email sent to Reuters. Despite the German shoemakers' reaction, they wish to inform the public that they will remain as one of the top sponsors in the said league.
Two football federation heads Mohammed Bin Hamman and Jack Warner have been suspended due to allegations of bribery. Mohammed allegedly paid off $40,000 for the 2022 World Cup to happen in Qatar Qatar won the bid with 14 votes against USA and Australia who only had 8 and 1 votes respectively. Mohammed is set to file an appeal while Warner has yet to release a statement. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has released a statement about the controversy, claiming that there is no need for a re-vote regarding the location of the future World Cups.