Coca-Cola pressures FIFA over ‘disappointing’ World Cup ethics report | M&M Global

Coca-Cola pressures FIFA over ‘disappointing’ World Cup ethics report

Coca-Cola has become the first FIFA World Cup sponsor to publicly express concern at the handling of an investigation into corruption around its tournament bidding process.

Coca-Cola

World football’s organising body is coming under increasing pressure after the publication of a report which exonerated World Cup 2018 and 2022 hosts Russia and Qatar of any wrongdoing.

Head of FIFA ethics committee, Michael Garcia, who conducted the investigation, has criticised the final report, drafted by FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, arguing that his findings had been “misrepresented”.

The chairman of England’s Football Association Greg Dyke – a former director-general of the BBC – has called for Garcia’s full report to be published, which FIFA president Sepp Blatter has so far refused to do.

Earlier this month, FIFA sponsor Emirates revealed it will not be renewing its deal in the summer, with reports speculating that fellow-sponsor Sony may follow suit.

Now Coca-Cola, which has sponsored the World Cup since 1978, has expressed “concern” at the fall-out from the publication of the ethics committee report.

A Coca-Cola sponsor told The Sunday Times: “Anything that detracts from the mission and ideals of the FIFA World Cup is a concern for us.

“The current conflicting perspectives regarding the investigation are disappointing. Our expectation is that this will be resolved quickly in a transparent and efficient manner.”

In 2005, Coca-Cola extended its World Cup sponsorship deal until 2022, including the tournaments now scheduled to take place in Russia and Qatar.

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