FIFA: Emirates ends its partnership in late 2014, Sony not likely to extend either

"Emirates can confirm that a decision has been made not to renew the sponsorship agreement with FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) past 2014," stated the airline company based in Dubai (UAE). "This decision was made following an evaluation of FIFA's contract proposal which did not meet Emirates' expectations."

"We don't get into politics but we believe the situation with FIFA went beyond an internal problem and became much bigger (...) clients started writing to us saying 'why do you support this organisation?,'" said Boutros Boutros, a senior communications director of the airline to the Australian outlet B&T Media.

• Emirates began its partnership with FIFA with the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
• It was the first airline to sponsor the international federation and the World Cup.
• Emirates maintains a high profile in football as shirt sponsor of Real Madrid (Liga BBVA), Arsenal (Barclays Premier League), Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue 1), AC Milan (Serie A TIM) and the Hamburger SV (Bundesliga).
• The airline Qatar Airways, shirt sponsor of FC Barcelona (Liga BBVA…