by Suzanne Beishon

FANS from across Europe launched a lobbying campaign targeting Fifa sponsors on Thursday, demanding that they join the call for independent reform of the crisis-ridden governing body.

Following an extensive debate in a session entitled Quo Vadis Fifa? at the Seaview Stadium in Belfast, for the European Football Fans Congress in July, fans agreed that the power of sponsors means that their influence could be key to securing independent scrutiny.

Sepp Blatter has launched a reform committee to attempt to rescue the heavily tarnished reputation of football’s top organisation — which is being investigated for corruption and bribery by both US and Swiss authorities.

The Fifa reform plan has drawn scorn from fans’ groups and other organisations which argue that the body cannot be trusted to rebuild itself.

And the comments of “independent” chairman of Fifa’s 15-person reform committee Francois Carrard, who was quoted questioning the US’s right to investigate corruption when football is “just an ethnic sport for girls in schools” in the US, did nothing to quell that position.

Looking to dissociate itself with Carrard, a Fifa statement to Reuters yesterday read: “Any comments by individuals associated with Fifa with respect to the ongoing investigations and the state of US football should be seen as personal views and do not reflect the views or position of Fifa.”

They also moved to show support for the US investigation saying: “The growth of football and the increased participation levels in the US have been tremendous and demonstrate the nation’s passion for the game. Fifa continues to work tirelessly to support the global development of the game in partnership with all of our 209 member associations.”

Three of the eight main Fifa sponsors, Coca-Cola, Visa and McDonalds, have already made public statements in support of reforming Fifa. The new campaign by Football Supporters Europe (FSE) has seen them launch a model email and publish the contact details of sponsors to encourage football fans from across the continent to email the chief executive at each Fifa sponsor directly. 

Speaking to the Star yesterday a spokesperson for FSE said: “Since world football is so driven by money these days, we believe that sponsors of Fifa through the money they invest can have a tremendous impact on how Fifa is run. 

“If they keep associating themselves with Fifa, it can ultimately harm them and their business as well. 

“We are glad that some key sponsors of Fifa have already understood this and voiced their concerns in the light of recent scandals, just like the fans have done for years. Now it is time that they take action accordingly.”

• A model email and contact details for sponsor CEOs can be found at: www.fanseurope.org/en/news/news-3/1154-fifa-sponsors-letter-eng.html