Fifa boss refuses to step down despite sponsors' protest

Fifa president Sepp Blatter will not resign despite major sponsors Coca-Cola, Visa, Budweiser and McDonald's calling for him to go immediately.

The four each issued statements saying Blatter should quit after Swiss criminal proceedings were opened against him last week.

Coca-Cola took the first step, saying: "Every day that passes Fifa's image and reputation continues to tarnish."

McDonald's said Blatter going would be "in the best interest of the game".

The 79-year-old is accused by Swiss prosecutors of signing a contract that was "unfavourable to Fifa" and making a "disloyal payment" to UEFA president Michel Platini, but denies any wrongdoing.

In a statement released through his lawyers on Friday, Blatter said resigning now "would not be in the best interest of Fifa, nor would it advance the process of reform".

Budweiser's parent company, AB InBev, said it considered Blatter "to be an obstacle in the reform process", while Visa said it would be in "the best interests of Fifa and the sport" for the Swiss to resign immediately.

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke described Friday's developments as a "game-changer".

Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term as president of world football's governing body in May, but the election was overshadowed when seven Fifa officials were arrested at the request of the United States.

The US later indicted 14 current and former Fifa officials and associates.

Blatter then announced he would be stepping down as president in February 2016.

On Monday, Blatter said through lawyers he would not resign before then, despite criminal proceedings being opened against him.

He has said the 2011 £1.5m payment made to Platini, the head of European football's governing body, was "valid compensation and nothing more".