Visa Threatens to Revoke FIFA Sponsorhip

Visa, the world's largest financial services company, has threatened to deliver a possibly fatal blow to FIFA after prominent members of the organization were arrested on corruption related charges.

The Guardian reports that Visa said that unless drastic changes are made to address the concerns of corruption within FIFA, the company will be forced to reevaluate its $25 million sponsorship of the organization. Visa explicitly called for "strong ethical practices," and said that, "it is important FIFA make changes now."

The US Justice Department charged 9 members of FIFA's governing body with crimes related to bribes received over a 24 year period and totalling roughly $150 million. Five media executives were also indicted along with the FIFA members.

In addition to Visa, prominent FIFA sponsors Coca-Cola and Adidas have made noises suggesting that their relationship with FIFA is also endangered by the new revelations.

Coca-Cola said that the scandal "tarnished," the World Cup, and the company has made known its concerns.

Other sponsors that have released statements urging transparency and concern include Hyundai and Budweiser, while McDonald's said it was paying close attention to the scandal as it develops.

Despite widely reported and proven instances of slavery and the deaths of workers used to build stadiums in Qatar, these companies have not spoken out as strongly to either FIFA or the Qatari government.

In addition to threatening sponsorships, the scandal has split the world's international soccer associations. The organization representing the major European leagues, UEFA, has called for a vote on FIFA's leadership to be postponed.

Sepp Blatter, who has governed FIFA over the period of time cited in the indictments, and is under investigation himself, is still being supported by the Confederation of African Football, and the Asian Football Conference.