Coca-Cola, Visa, McDonald's, Anheuser-Busch Demand That FIFA's Sepp Blatter Resign

FIFA's major sponsors appear to be taking sides against embattled president, Sepp Blatter, with four major companies calling for him to resign immediately—while others are keeping silent or say the ongoing reform efforts should be allowed to run their course.

Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch InBev, McDonald's and Visa issued separate statements Friday, in what appeared to be a coordinated move, saying Blatter should go right now, reports the BBC. Those four stepped up pressure after the Swiss attorney general opened criminal proceedings against the soccer executive last week, alleging, among other things, that he sold TV rights at below market value to a former FIFA official.

Apparently, that is  not soon enough for some sponsors. AB InBev, for example, who Budweiser brand is a major FIFA sponsor, called him "an obstacle in the reform process," while Coke said FIFA's image becomes more "tarnished" every day Blatter remains.

All told, the organization's main sponsors—which also include Adidas, Hyundai/Kia and Gazprom—are believed to contribute approximately one-quarter of FIFA's $5.7 billion in revenue during each four-year World Cup cycle.