demand a change in FIFA leadership, says presidential
candidate Tokyo Sexwale.
FIFA presidential candidate Tokyo Sexwale has warned against
the dangers of "sponsor activism" as world football's governing
body seeks to clean up its act.
Sexwale is set to contest an election in February to decide
FIFA's next president, while the incumbent Sepp Blatter
is serving a 90-day suspension.
Shortly before Blatter became the subject of a FIFA Ethics
Committee investigation, Coca Cola and McDonald's issued
statements demanding the 79-year-old stood down
immediately.
South African Sexwale, whose candidacy suffered a blow last
week when the Confederation of African Football refused to
guarantee the block support of its 54 nations, believes such
actions by sponsors set a dangerous precedent.
"Coca Cola, Budweiser; these companies, partners of FIFA have
got the right to speak. But I think we should be very careful how
far we go with sponsors' activism," he said.
"So they said 'Mr Blatter should go' – fine, okay. 'And if he
doesn't go we'll pull out our money' – okay.
"What they did not mean, and what they did not see is that in
saying 'we'll pull out our money' that, if he doesn't go, they're
about to appoint the next FIFA president or the president of any
organisation that will be afflicted by similar problems."
Sexwale, a businessman and former political prisoner, felt the
more measured statement issued by Adidas – calling for
thorough reform, but stopping short of demanding a change of
leadership – points the way forward to other FIFA sponsors.
"It should have ended where Adidas said 'we think that systems
must be fixed up – get this thing working'," he added.
"So one of the things that needs to be done – in giving
confidence and building back the brand of FIFA – is to sit down
with the sponsors and say 'you know you have got a word,
there's a way of you doing these things without you saying so
and so should go."
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