The recent controversy over the bidding process for the World Cups in Russia and Qatar is beginning to affect FIFA in a way that could bring about real change.
Last week, FIFA found themselves answering more questions on the awarding of the World Cup to Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022 after Michael Garcia, the man they had paid to investigate the process, disowned a summary of his report made by Hans-Joachim Eckert.
That led to even further uproar, with Garcia claiming that the summary contained "numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations of the facts", and further information emerged that showed that Garcia's investigations had been hampered by Russia's inability to provide accurate information to him, and he was placed on a list that barred him from travelling to the country afterwards.
All of this negative press finally looks set to have an effect, as Sony, one of the six "official partners" of the World Cup has decided to end their association with the tournament amid all the controversy.
The Wall Street Journal report that the contract was worth around $280 million to FIFA and that Sony will not renew it when it finishes at the end of this year, citing a source close to the company. Emirates Airlines also recently announced that they would walk away from FIFA, and with the allegations of corruption now beginning to take a financial toll, FIFA may need to take decisive action on the continuing controversy to prevent other major deals falling through.
Via the Wall Street Journal
