These are pretty damning allegations against a not-for-profit organization that recorded $338million profit and $5.7billion in revenues for the 2011-2014 financial period. This money comes mainly from FIFA’s key revenue streams, the sale of television rights for the World Cup and marketing rights to sponsors including Adidas, Coca-Cola, Gazprom, Hyundai/Kia Motors, Visa and Budweiser.
Corporate sponsorship, especially of the world’s most popular sport, is great publicity for a brand. One billion viewers tune into the World Cup every four years, giving sponsors unrivalled exposure to markets all around the world. But suddenly, instead of being associated with some of the best athletes and the most popular sport in the world, corporations risk having their image tarnished by a governing body that was taking bribes to fund lavish lifestyles that rival those of football’s star players.
Moreover, as the Wall Street Journal points out, this isn’t exactly a shocking development for sponsors, who have maintained their FIFA sponsorship agreements for years despite persistent allegations of corruption and misconduct. The controversy surrounding the World Cup in Qatar should have been enough to send sponsors running, especially the allegations of abused migrant labourers building soccer stadiums. Now it has all blown up and the corporations that contributed $177million to FIFA in 2014 have come under intense media scrutiny, highlighting the danger of linking corporate reputation to an outside organisation.
Still, there is an opportunity for corporations that have suddenly become associated with an incredibly tarnished organization to turn this around. Their financial support of FIFA does, after all, allow sponsors to demand change. Frankly, this is something they should have done a long time ago, but it’s not too late. So far, however, only Visa Inc. has stated that it will “reassess its sponsorship” if FIFA fails to rebuild “a culture with strong ethical practices to restore the reputation of the games for fans everywhere”. Adidas, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s only stated that they are monitoring the situation.
But while corporate sponsors are suddenly getting the wrong kind of attention, one could argue that the FIFA scandal is a publicity coup in some respects: Even David Beckham couldn’t generate this level of interest for soccer in the US.
The week, Abchaps hosted a successful market lunch discussing the current conditions of London’s IPO market. Abchurch also hosted an event that brought together people from across the City to celebrate the life of Gerry Clark, close acquaintance and friend of Abchurch.
The professional services firm EY has appointed two partners to its UK legal services practice. Paul Devitt and Richard Thomas both join from Addleshaw Goddard. Deloitte has elected Nick Owen as Chairman, he is currently a member of the Board of Partners and Vice Chairman of Deloitte UK. Moore Stephens have appointed Ian Gardner as partner in the accountancy and consulting firm’s insurance industry group.
Not-for-profit organisation: A type of organisation that does not earn profits for its owners, and instead uses all of the money earned to pursue the organization’s objectives. FIFA is officially a Not-for-profit, so it was probably about time that somebody took a closer look at their objectives.
This weekend, join Backyard Cinema in their one of a kind performance of Romeo and Juliet. Performed in St Mary’s Church, this showing will be candle lit, music performed by a live choir, and most importantly, a fully licensed bar.
If all you’ve ever wanted from life is to break a Guinness world record, this weekend is your chance. Join British Military Fitness on Wandsworth Common, where you can be part of the largest ever group to perform a minute of squat jumps. Never will 60 seconds have seemed so long.
Finally, if you’ve always seen yourself as the next Banksy, Hays Galleria are giving you the opportunity to create your own Flower Thrower painting. All the thrill of graffiti, with less chance of a criminal record.
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