Blatter stands firm despite Coca Cola, Visa and McDonald's demanding resignation
Oct 3, 2015 09:38:52
The three high profile sponsors have asked the world governing body's chief to step down after criminal proceedings were opened by Swiss authorities
Sepp Blatter insists he will not resign as Fifa president, despite coming under fire from three of the organisation's biggest sponsors, Coca Cola, McDonald's and Visa.
The corruption scandal engulfing world football's governing body last week caught up with Blatter, as criminal proceedings were opened against him by Swiss authorities on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation.
Coca Cola and Visa - headline Fifa partners - as well as World Cup sponsor McDonald's have previously expressed their concern over the numerous revelations of corruption and mismanagement.
But both companies have now called for tough action to be taken, demanding Blatter step down immediately from a role that he is set to relinquish regardless in February.
A McDonald's statement claimed "it would be in the best interest of the game for Fifa President Sepp Blatter to step down immediately", while McDonald's said "every day that passes, the image and reputation of Fifa continues to tarnish", and Visa added "we believe no meaningful reform can be made under Fifa’s existing leadership".
However, a statement released via Blatter's legal team after Coca Cola's initial release read: "While Coca Cola is a valued sponsor of Fifa, Mr Blatter respectfully disagrees with its position and 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."
