Mastercard Wins Fifa Legal Battle

MasterCard’s legal fight against FIFA over losing its World Cup sponsorship
berth to rival Visa has taken an unexpected twist after a US Federal Court
upheld MasterCard’s complaint.

The landmark decision will come as a sizeable blow to the football governing
body and Visa with FIFA now facing a major compensation claim and potentially
could be forced to offer the exclusive sponsorship rights for the financial
services category back to MasterCard.

FIFA has responded with dismay and will appeal the decision, stating that it
fully expects to prevail. The governing body noted that the Zurich arbitration
tribunal is competent to hear this dispute, and it will await the outcome of
this proceeding before deciding on its next move.

MasterCard’s World Cup sponsorship deal with FIFA expired at the end of this
summer’s tournament and the firm was to be replaced by Visa for 2010 after FIFA
signed a £150m deal with the rival brand earlier this year – a contract
MasterCard claims was negotiated without its knowledge.