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Presidential candidate Sexwale wary of 'sponsor activism' in FIFA

Top-level sponsors should not use their position to demand a change in FIFA leadership, says presidential candidate Tokyo Sexwale.

FIFA presidential candidate Tokyo Sexwale has warned against the dangers of "sponsor activism" as world football's governing body seeks to clean up its act.

Sexwale is set to contest an election in February to decide FIFA's next president, while the incumbent Sepp Blatter is serving a 90-day suspension.

Shortly before Blatter became the subject of a FIFA Ethics Committee investigation, Coca Cola and McDonald's issued statements demanding the 79-year-old stood down immediately.

South African Sexwale, whose candidacy suffered a blow last week when the Confederation of African Football refused to guarantee the block support of its 54 nations, believes such actions by sponsors set a dangerous precedent.