FIFA sponsors will not walk away, claims expert

A sponsorship expert says leading FIFA's leading partners are unlikely to walk away despite a high-profile corruption scandal.

The corruption scandal engulfing FIFA will not affect the long-term relationship between football's leading governing body and its major sponsors, according to a sports sponsorship expert.

"I don't think they [sponsors] will continue to feel tarnished by association. Most have come out with some sort of distancing press release and now Blatter has gone, they will call for FIFA to clean up its act," Matthew Glendinning, editor of Sports Sponsorship Insider, told Perform.

Last week, 14 people - including nine past and present FIFA officials - were indicted by the United…