Coca-Cola, McDonald's call for Sepp Blatter to step down immediately as FIFA president

Coca-Cola Co., a World Cup sponsor since 1978, and McDonald's, a World Cup sponsor since 1994, are calling for the immediate resignation of FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

On Friday, the multinational beverage corporation became the first of FIFA's sponsors to call for Blatter's instant removal from the disgraced governing body, doing so via an emailed statement.

From Coca-Cola's press release, according to Rob Harris of The Associated Press:

For the benefit of the game, The Coca-Cola Company is calling for FIFA President Joseph Blatter to step down immediately so that a credible and sustainable reform process can begin in earnest. Every day that passes, the image and reputation of FIFA continues to tarnish. FIFA needs comprehensive and urgent reform, and that can only be accomplished through a truly independent approach.

The statement was promptly followed by a separate statement from McDonald's, which echoed Coca-Cola's call.

From that press release, according to the Guardian:

The events of recent weeks have continued to diminish the reputation of FIFA and public confidence in its leadership.

We believe it would be in the best interest of the game for FIFA president Sepp Blatter to step down immediately so that the reform process can proceed with the credibility that is needed.

Swiss authorities opened criminal proceedings against Blatter exactly one week ago, investigating the kingpin "on suspicion of criminal mismanagement as well as - alternatively - on suspicion of misappropriation" as part of a wider investigation into the corruption scandal engulfing FIFA.

The development was described by Swiss broadcasting company Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen as the "first concrete evidence" pertaining to Blatter's involvement in the corruption scandal.

Related: Swiss authorities open criminal investigation against Sepp Blatter

Blatter's lawyer responded to the Coca-Cola and McDonald's statements, insisting that his client will not resign, writing: "While Coca Cola is a valued sponsor of FIFA, Mr. Blatter respectfully disagrees with its position and believes firmly that his leaving office now would not be in the best interest of FIFA nor would it advance the process of reform and therefore, he will not resign."

This isn't the first time Coca-Cola has challenged Blatter.

Back in June, the beverage company presented FIFA with one of its most notable challenges by calling for an independent third-party commission to oversee the organisation's reform, urging for "one or more eminent impartial leaders to manage the efforts necessary to help reform FIFA's governance and its human rights requirements."

Related: Coca-Cola calls on FIFA to undergo immediate reform process led by external figure

Coca-Cola has a contract with FIFA until 2022.