Sony to withdraw World Cup sponsorship

TOKYO, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Sony Corp., one of the World Cup's six "official sponsors," will no longer be connected with the global soccer tournament.

The 33 billion yen ($279 million) contract between the FIFA, soccer's international organizing body, and the Japanese electronics giant will expire on Dec. 31 and will not be renewed, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing a source familiar with the situation.

Another top sponsor, Dubai-based airline Emirates, announced earlier in the month it would no longer involve itself with the World Cup.

Sony has not made a formal announcement.

At issue is the transparency of the World Cup host selection process. After granting the event to Qatar in 2018 and to Russia in 2022, FIFA launched an investigation after allegations of corruption in the selection process surfaced. A report, released earlier in November, indicated no serious examples of corruption were found, but investigator Michael Garcia called the summary a whitewash containing "materially incomplete and erroneous representations."

The Sunday Times of London reported Coca-Cola may be the next prime sponsor to leave the World Cup over the transparency issue.

The remaining major sponsors are Visa, Hyundai/Kia and Adidas. British newspaper The Guardian reported Samsung and Qatar Air "have been lined up" to replace Sony and Emirates.