The top corporate sponsors Visa, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Anheuser-Busch InBev took coordinated aim at FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Friday, calling for him to resign as the head of world soccer’s governing body and labeling him an obstacle to reform of the organization. Mr. Blatter immediately rejected the demands, suggesting that FIFA saw the public statements as little more than an idle threat.
“Every day that passes, the image and reputation of FIFA continues to tarnish,” Coca-Cola said in a news release, a sentiment that was quickly amplified in similar statements by the other sponsors.