Sepp Blatter remains in credit with Visa
When in the depths of its corruption scandal last week Fifa was being eviscerated by politicians and press, the sponsor Visa added its voice to the storm. „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,“ it said in a statement.
That was its public sermon. But Digger hears that in private, there was a slightly different complexion to Visa’s dialogue with football’s world governing body. A well-placed source stated that in the weeks before the presidential election Visa formally reconfirmed its commitment to Fifa, which runs until after the 2014 World Cup. Indeed there are strong hints that the financial?services company is in the midst of negotiations to extend and even to raise the level of its $200m (122m) sponsorship beyond 2014.
When approached for comment about the status of its sponsorship arrangements with the beleaguered football governing body, Visa would only reiterate an element of its prior release: „Our current sponsorship rights extend through the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. As a matter of policy we do not speculate on business decisions or sponsorship renewals.“
Take from that what you will. But it is worth remembering that at the same time as Visa’s morality message was issued, Sepp Blatter was a few days from a Fifa presidential election that, though uncontested, would have wounded him if there had been widespread abstentions. As Authentic Prada Leather Handbag it turned out Blatter was „very proud“ to Agatha Ruiz Dela Prada Sale Uk have 186 votes in his favour. How much he relied on Visa’s timely expression of Agatha Ruiz Dela Prada Sale Uk continued corporate support when he approached voting associations with last-minute lobbying for their votes, we shall never know. Bicester Village London Prada But it cannot have hurt if he did. For as About Prada Products we know, even amid a chorus of criticism over corruption, to many delegates within the Fifa congress it is money that talks the loudest.
Bernstein hedges Authentic Prada Handbags For Cheap his bets with a note to Blatter
Despite the gentle applause that David Bernstein received from dignitaries at England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland at Wembley on Saturday replica prada handbags, some highly influential figures within the Football Association’s political structures believe Bernstein bungled with his challenge to Sepp Blatter. Some feel he was bowing meekly to parliamentary pressure. Certainly Bernstein was beseeched by Authentic Prada Shoes Sale the sports minister, Hugh Robertson, and others, to make a principled stand. But those who say he should have played more to a football audience may be encouraged that Bernstein has now sent a letter to Blatter acknowledging his presidential-election success, while standing firm over Julio Grondona’s particularly extreme Anglophobic rhetoric.
Brooking preserves FA About Prada Products honour on golf links
In attempting to rebuild England’s reputation overseas the FA general secretary, Alex Horne, is rightly focusing on Agatha Ruiz Dela Prada Uefa. On the face of it, that might not be easy. But Bernstein and the Uefa president shared something on the Thursday morning before the Champions League final at Wembley 10 days ago that shows Are Prada Trainers Made In Vietnam they have something to build on: a round of golf. Bernstein and Platini were one pairing in a four-ball with Fabio Capello and Sir Trevor Brooking, left, the other. Platini, according to an old Gary Lineker anecdote, is an „angry“ golfer, but English diplomatic interests were preserved on the day: the match finished all square.