Major Fifa sponsors' threats leave Sepp Blatter unphased

Major sponsors of Fifa have called on the currently embattled boss of the governing body’s resigation.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter decided to not resign despite major sponsors like Coca-Cola, Visa, Budweiser and McDonald’s calling for him to go immediately. The four each issued statements saying Blatter should quit after Swiss criminal proceedings were opened against him last week.

Coca-Cola took the first step, saying: “Every day that passes Fifa’s image and reputation continues to tarnish.” McDonald’s said Blatter going would be “in the best interest of the game” In a statement released through his lawyers on Friday, Blatter said resigning now “would not be in the best interest of Fifa, nor would it advance the process of reform”.

Budweiser’s parent company, AB InBev, said it considered Blatter “to be an obstacle in the reform process”, while Visa said it would be in “the best interests of Fifa and the sport” for the Swiss to resign immediately. Football Association chairman Greg Dyke described Friday’s developments as a “game-changer”. He added: “It doesn’t matter what Mr Blatter says now. If the people who pay for Fifa want a change they will get a change. For those of us who want fundamental change, this is good news.”