Blatter refused to leave the post of President FIFA at the request of sponsors

President FIFA ZPPP Blatter said through a lawyer that he would not leave his post a deadline, BBC reports . According to the 79-year-old president, heading the association since 1998, his resignation will not contribute to reforms in FIFA.

The largest sponsors of FIFA - Coca -Cola, McDonald's, Visa and Budweiser - called for the immediate resignation of Blatter. This is the first time that sponsors directly demanded his departure. In their opinion, the further stay of Blatter at the head of FIFA spoils its reputation and inhibits the beginning of reforms, which should make the organization more transparent.

On September 24, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Switzerland opened a criminal case against Blatter on suspicion of criminal negligence and - alternatively - in the assignment. " According to the Switzerland prosecutor’s office, on September 12, 2005, Blatter signed a contract with the Caribbean Football Union for the sale of rights to television broadcasting world and 2014 championships on obviously unprofitable conditions for FIFA. The prosecutor’s office also suspects Blatter that he, when signing this agreement, violated his duties and acted against the interests of FIFA.

In addition, Blatter "is suspected of illegal payment of 2 million Swiss Franks Michel Platini, the President of the European Football Association (UEFA), at the expense of the FIFA, which were allegedly paid for the work carried out from January to June 2002, this payment was made in February 2011," the Swiss prosecutor's office reported.

On May 27, in Zurich, the Swiss police arrested six FIFA functionaries . The arrests took place as part of the US authorities investigation of corruption and bribery in the leadership of the Federation. The FIFA functionaries were charged with corruption over the past 20 years around applications for the world championships, as well as fraud with marketing and broadcast transactions. In addition, they are charged with fraud, racketeering and laundering.

Later it became known that the Federal Department of Justice and the Switzerland police started a criminal case in connection with possible fraud during the procedure for choosing countries of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The FIFA headquarters searched with the seizure of documents.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the arrests of FIFA functionaries, regarded them as another "obvious attempt" to extend his jurisdiction to other states . The purpose of the arrests in FIFA, according to Putin, is to "prevent Mr. Blatter to re -election to the presidency of the Association. He also stated that these arrests "are a gross violation of the principles of the functioning of international organizations."

On June 3, it became known that Blatter is in the center of investigation of the American FBI as part of the case, which were arrested by members of the FIFA leadership.

On May 29, Blatter was, despite the scandal, once again was re -elected to his post . Russia supported the candidacy of the current head of FIFA. Blatter later said that he would resign in early 2016.