Sponsors Pressure FIFA to End Corruption

FIFA’s corporate sponsors are speaking out after world soccer executives were arrested on corruption charges Wednesday, with the group’s oldest sponsor—Adidas—saying the group must implement reforms. “Following [yesterday’s] news, we can therefore only encourage FIFA to continue to establish and follow transparent compliance standards in everything they do,” the sports gear maker said. Another major sponsor, Coca-Cola, said the World Cup’s image is now “tarnished,” while Visa threatened to revoke sponsorship if FIFA does not “take swift and immediate steps to address these issues within its organization.”