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Emirates airline pulls out of backing Fifa and could be followed by Sony Emirates airline pulls out of backing Fifa and could be followed by Sony
(35 minutes later)
Emirates has become the first of Fifa’s top level sponsors to end its relationship with world football’s governing body since a fresh wave of corruption allegations engulfed the organisation over the summer. Emirates airline has become the first of Fifa’s major sponsors to end its relationship with world football’s governing body since corruption allegations engulfed the organisation in the summer.
As a Fifa taskforce met in Zurich to discuss the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, likely to start in either January or November of that year, the airline confirmed it would end its sponsorship agreement at the end of 2014. As a Fifa taskforce met in Zurich to discuss the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, likely to start in either January or November of that year, the airline said it would end its sponsorship at the end of 2014.
Another of Fifa’s six top level partners, Sony, is also understood to be reviewing its position as the latest four year World Cup cycle draws to a close at the end of 2014. Another of Fifa’s six partners, Sony, is also understood to be reviewing its position as the four year World Cup cycle draws to a close at the end of 2014.
Those campaigning for Fifa reform amid endless allegations of cronyism and corruption have long hoped that pressure from sponsors could finally lead to meaningful change. But it is understood that potential replacements for Emirates and Sony have already been lined up in the shape of Qatar Air, the national carrier of the country that will controversially host the 2022 World Cup, and Samsung. Those campaigning for Fifa reform amid endless allegations of cronyism and corruption have long hoped pressure from sponsors would lead to change. It is understood replacements for Emirates and Sony have been lined up in the shape of Qatar Air, the national carrier of the country that will host the 2022 World Cup, and Samsung.
The Korean electronics giant could replace Sony if the Japanese company decides against renewing a deal that contributes to the £900m that pours into Fifa’s coffers from sponsors over each four year cycle.The Korean electronics giant could replace Sony if the Japanese company decides against renewing a deal that contributes to the £900m that pours into Fifa’s coffers from sponsors over each four year cycle.
In June, sponsors including Sony, Adidas and Visa demanded that new allegations of corruptions concerning the bidding process for 2022 World Cup be taken seriously. But despite admitting that the “negative tenor of the public debate” around Fifa was bad for football, Adidas renewed its sponsorship until 2030. In June, sponsors including Sony, Adidas and Visa demanded allegations of corruption concerning the bidding process for 2022 World Cup be taken seriously. Adidas, despite admitting the “negative tenor of the public debate” around Fifa was bad for football, renewed its sponsorship until 2030.
For all the bad publicity surrounding Fifa’s scandal hit executive committee and the bidding process that led to the 2018 World Cup being awarded to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar, it has continued to go commercially from strength to strength. Even if a sponsor falls away, a direct rival is usually only too keen to step up and take its place. For all the adverse publicity surrounding its scandal hit executive committee and the bidding process that led to the 2018 World Cup being awarded to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar, Fifa has continued to go from strength to strength commercially. Even if a sponsor falls away, a direct rival is usually only too keen to take its place.
Emirates said only that the contract proposal did not meet with its expectations and Fifa said it had known since 2012 that the airline was not going to renew. Emirates said only that the contract proposal did not meet with its expectations and Fifa said it had known since 2012 the airline was not going to renew.
But the Conservative MP Damian Collins said he hoped the Emirates decision would be the first of many among sponsors starting to question Fifa’s credibility. The Conservative MP Damian Collins hoped Emirates would be the first of many sponsors to start to question Fifa’s credibility. “When sponsors start to become wary, that is where Fifa will start to hurt – it’s an organisation set up to make as much money as possible out of football. That’s something they will take notice of,” he said.
“When sponsors start to become wary, that is where Fifa will start to hurt – it’s an organisation that is set up to make as much money as possible out of football. That’s something they will take notice of,” he said. The latest meeting of the taskforce charged with drawing up an international calendar for 2018 to 2024 narrowed the debate down to two main options. It was hastily convened after Sepp Blatter’s plan to unilaterally move the Qatar World Cup to November 2022 to avoid the searing summer heat was opposed by broadcasting partners and European leagues.
The latest meeting of a taskforce set up to draw up an international match calendar for 2018 to 2024, hastily convened after Sepp Blatter’s plan to unilaterally move the Qatar World Cup to November 2022 to avoid the searing summer heat was opposed by broadcasting partners and European leagues, narrowed the debate down to two main options.
A European Clubs Association presentation proposed May 2022 as a new option in a bid to minimise disruption.A European Clubs Association presentation proposed May 2022 as a new option in a bid to minimise disruption.
But the Qatar 2022 chief executive Hassan al-Thawadi expressed a preference for a winter tournament for the first time and Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke said: “We are getting closer to narrowing the dates for the Fifa World Cup to two options – January/February 2022 or November/December 2022.” The Qatar 2022 chief executive, Hassan al-Thawadi, expressed a preference for a winter tournament for the first time and the Fifa general secretary, Jérôme Valcke, said: “We are getting closer to narrowing the dates for the World Cup to two options – January-February 2022 or November-December 2022.”
The task force, chaired by Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, will meet again early next year with a decision expected by spring 2015. The task force, chaired by the Asian Football Confederation president, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, will meet again early next year with a decision expected by spring 2015.