Sony Decide Against Extending Sponsorship Deal With FIFA

Sony does not intend to renew its sponsorship contract with world football’s governing body FIFA.

The news will come as a blow to FIFA who recently lost Emirates as a sponsor for future World Cups.

It is believed both Sony and Emirates decided to sever ties with the governing body amid corruption allegations relating to the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Sony has sponsored FIFA for eight years in a contract worth £222 million which runs out on December 31 2014.

Despite FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert clearing both Russia and Qatar of any wrongdoing regarding the bidding process, discount FIFA investigator Michael Garcia’s claims that his report was misinterpreted has cast more controversy on the matter.

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke (pictured right) claims Emirates and Sony are not ending their deals with FIFA due to the allegations of corruption and bribery.

Despite not confirming that Sony will end its current agreement, drugs he said he “would be surprised” if they extended the deal.

“Both Sony and Emirates have nothing to do with the situation we are facing these last days,” Valcke said.

“I know that football is still a very strong product and I am not really concerned with FIFA’s finances for the future.”

Speaking in Belfast after a meeting of the International Football Association Board, Valcke admitted that FIFA’s image has been tarnished by the recent events.

“The image of FIFA is something I agree, over the last two weeks I would not say reached the bottom, but has reached a level which is definitely a level which we will not go lower than,” Valcke said.

“Things are happening, things have happened, but we are still doing a lot of good things. We have to rebuild this image day after day. It’s easy to destroy the reputation. It takes one second. It takes years to rebuild our reputation, but that’s what we will do.”

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