FIFA hurting after top sponsor Visa piles on pressure for reform

Visa CEO Charlie Scharf weighed in on FIFA's ongoing corruption scandal, with world football's organizing body now feeling the heat from its biggest sponsor.

With several FIFA executives under investigation for charges of corruption, the organization's top sponsor released a statement saying reform could not happen under FIFA's current leadership, especially under president Sepp Blatter.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke admitted the organization's sponsors aren't pleased with their dealings and is working to try to mend those relationships.

"Clearly, there were three sponsors, Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Visa who sent a letter to FIFA," Valcke said. "We sent to all our commercial partners, not just the three I have mentioned, an update or summary of all that has happened within FIFA since 2012, since the first reform process started and all that has been changed within FIFA's administration or around FIFA."

Valcke's comments come in the wake of yet another major sponsor making a public statement, with Scharf calling FIFA's handling and response to corruption charges as "wholly inadequate."

We view the stewardship of our company, our brand, and our clients with the utmost importance and try to hold ourselves to the highest standards.

We seek to partner with those who think and act like us. I don't believe that FIFA is living up to these standards. Furthermore, their subsequent responses are wholly inadequate and continue to show its lack of awareness of the seriousness of the changes which are needed. We believe two things need to happen to ensure credible reform. First, an independent, third-party commission led by one or more impartial leaders is critical to formulate reforms. Second, we believe no meaningful reform can be made under FIFA's existing leadership. Football itself is a great sport with which we are proud to be associated. We want to be proud to be associated with FIFA and hope and look forward to working with them to that end.

Visa isn't the first major sponsor to call for changes within FIFA, though: Coca-Cola has been vocal in their desire for reform for the sport's governing body, too. FIFA's handling of the controversy has turned farcical, and Valcke said FIFA will be addressing their sponsors' concerns soon.

"There will be a meeting next month in August between all the FIFA partners and FIFA along with the legal and marketing departments," Valcke said. "The issue is to make sure from their side that the reform process ongoing should be through an independent body."