In response to the resignation of Sepp Blatter, FIFA's president, Adidas said in a statement, “We welcome FIFA's commitment to change. As stated before, the Adidas Group is fully committed to creating a culture that promotes the highest standards of ethics and compliance. Today's news marks a step in the right direction on FIFA's path to establish and follow transparent compliance standards in everything they do.”
The resignation came after the U.S. issued indictments against 14 current or former soccer officials last week alleging corruption and fraud and the Swiss announced a criminal investigation into the votes awarding the World Cup tournaments to Russia in 2018 and to Qatar in 2022.
Among FIFA'S other sponsors, Coca-Cola said, “The announcement today is a positive step for the good of sport, football and its fans,” in a recent statement. “Our expectation remains that FIFA will continue to act with urgency to take concrete actions to fully address all of the issues that have been raised and win back the trust of all who love the sport of football. We believe this decision will help FIFA transform itself rapidly into a much-needed 21st century structure and institution.”
McDonald's stated, “The allegations of corruption and questionable ethics within FIFA have overshadowed the game and taken away from the sport, players and fans…We're hopeful that the changes being implemented within FIFA will be a big first step in positively reforming the organization and gaining back trust from fans worldwide.”
Anheuser-Busch InBev said, “We expect today's announcement to accelerate FIFA's efforts to resolve internal issues, install positive change and adhere to the highest ethical standards and transparency. We look forward to the beauty of the game taking center-stage again for football fans around the globe.”
Visa said, “We are encouraged by the recognition by FIFA that extensive and fundamental reform is needed as reflected by the announcement that President Blatter is resigning and that FIFA will be undergoing a “profound overhaul”. This is a significant first step towards rebuilding public trust, but more work lies ahead.”
Visa added, “Transparency, integrity and fair play must be the hallmarks of the new administration and Visa stands ready to work with FIFA towards these principles. We repeat, however, that it is our expectation that FIFA will take swift and immediate steps towards addressing the issues within its organization to quickly rebuild a culture with strong ethical practices that will restore the reputation of the games for fans around the world. We look forward to understanding the nature and scope of the intended reforms in the very near future.”
FIFA licensee Electronic Arts said, “Football is more than a sport; it unites us around the world in a shared passion. At Electronic Arts, we are supportive of FIFA's examination of its organization and the important steps being taken toward reform.”
