New Fifa Now

Three of Fifa’s biggest sponsors on Thursday night revealed they had joined Sony and Emirates in abandoning football’s beleaguered world governing body.
Castrol, Continental and Johnson & Johnson all confirmed to Telegraph Sport that they had severed their ties with the Sepp Blatter regime when their contracts expired last year – which proved to be among the most turbulent 12 months in its scandal-hit history.
The withdrawal of support from five of the world’s most recognisable brands represents a huge blow to the finances of Fifa, which nets around £1 billion from its commercial partners every four years.
None of the five sponsors in question has openly cited its numerous crises as being a reason for walking away, but the departure of so many in quick succession inevitably raises questions about whether Fifa has become toxic.
Sony was one of a number of its commercial backers to express concerns about allegations of wrong-doing around the award of the next two World Cups shortly before last summer’s tournament in Brazil.

The news that the electronics giant and Emirates would not be renewing their contracts as Fifa partners – the highest tier in its portfolio of sponsors – emerged while it was embroiled in a civil war over its inquiry into that scandal.
In that, its chief investigator quit in protest at attempts to suppress his findings, which Fifa was forced into agreeing to make public when its probe is finally concluded.
Emirates had long since decided not to renew its deal, revealing its reasons in a statement in November.
But Castrol, Continental and Johnson & Johnson – who were second-tier official World Cup sponsors – slipped away more quietly, each only confirming their departure when contacted by The Daily Telegraph.