Comments from FIFA sponsors on corruption allegations

May 31 (Reuters) - Top-tier sponsors have been putting pressure on world soccer governing body FIFA to undertake reforms in the wake of a wave of corruption allegations.[ID:nL3E7GV0LN]

Following are responses from the six FIFA partners and six main sponsors.

Partners:

Adidas AG : “The negative tonality of the public debate surrounding FIFA is neither good for football nor for FIFA and its partners,” said a spokesman. The spokesman said the sporting goods and apparel company would continue its partnership with FIFA.
Coca-Cola Co : “The current allegations being raised are distressing and bad for the sport,” the soft drinks and snacks company’s spokesman Petro Kacur said in an email to Reuters. “We have every expectation that FIFA will resolve this situation in an expedient and thorough manner,” Kacur added.
Hyundai Motor Co <005380.KS>: Declined comment.
Emirates Group [EMIRA.UL]: “Emirates, like all football fans around the world, is disappointed with the issues that are currently surrounding the administration of the sport,” Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president for corporate communications, said in an emailed statement.
The statement added: “We hope that these issues will be resolved as soon as possible and the outcome will be in the interest of the game and sport in general.”
Sony Corp <6758.T>: Declined comment.
Visa Inc : “The current situation is clearly not good for the game and we ask that FIFA take all necessary steps to resolve the concerns that have been raised,” Visa Europe said in a short statement on Tuesday.
Sponsors:
Budweiser (Anheuser Busch Inbev SA ): Could not be reached for comment.
Castrol (BP Plc ): Could not be reached for comment.
Continental AG : “We have supported professional soccer for more than 15 years, at a regional, national and international level. We will continue to support the sport in the future, and will make the decisions as to what form that support will take at the appropriate time. We cannot endorse any developments that damage professional soccer, the 2014 World Cup or the characteristics of the game.”
McDonald’s Corp : Could not be reached for comment.

Oi : Declined comment