World football sponsors want Blatter kicked out
President of FIFA Sepp Blatter will not resign despite major sponsors
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".
The 79-year-old is accused by Swiss prosecutors of signing a contract
that was "unfavourable to FIFA" and making a "disloyal payment" to UEFA
president Michel Platini, but denies any wrongdoing.
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".
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."
The US later indicted 14 current and former FIFA officials and
associates on charges of "rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted"
corruption. Blatter then announced he would be stepping down as
president in February 2016. |