FIFA loses three more sponsors

LONDON

FIFA has lost another three major sponsors as disquiet about bribery allegations continue.

Household names Castrol, Continental and Johnson and Johnson ended their sponsorship deals with FIFA on Friday.

According to reports from British media, FIFA – which receives approximately $1.5 billion in revenue from its sponsors every four years – lost the trio in the wake of Sony and Emirates’ decision to cut ties with the international footballing body.

German tire manufacturer Continental has had a sponsorship deal with FIFA since 2003. British industrial and car lubricant firm Castrol has been a FIFA sponsor since 2008 and U.S. pharmaceutical and medical devices company Johnson and Johnson had dealt with FIFA since 2011.

It is reported that the firms did not make any statement about their withdrawals but it has been suggested that bribery claims regarding the 2018 FIFA World Cup being given to Russia and the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar had an effect.

After the bribery claims, many countries, especially England, called for current FIFA president Sepp Blatter to become ineligible for the upcoming FIFA chairmanship election.

It is expected that FIFA vice president for Asia, Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein of Jordan, will collect signatures to compete against Blatter.

Meanwhile, the British press stated that UEFA president Michel Platini will support the Jordanian’s bid.