By Andrew Warshaw
November 4 – World football’s governing body has asked for further clarification over reports that one of its key sponsors, Emirates Airlines, is considering whether or not extend the current agreement between the two parties.
Australian media group B&T quoted Boutros Boutros, the divisional senior vice-president of corporate communications for the airline as saying it felt “overlooked” by FIFA during the recent cash-for-votes debacle that rocked soccer’s governing body earlier this year.
As a result, he said, discussions had taken place whether to carry on supporting FIFA.
“We are seriously thinking about not renewing our partnership with FIFA beyond 2014,” Boutros was quoted as saying.
The recent scandals enveloping FIFA, and the resultant impact on its global image, are making several of its partners nervous about continuing to pay out millions in sponsorship.
Emirates signed an eight-year contract in 2006 worth $195 million (£122 million/€141 million) and a FIFA spokesman told Bloomberg they were “surprised” by the comments attributed to Boutros.
The organisation said it was attempting to clarify the comments, stressing it had a “very positive relationship” with all commercial partners.
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