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FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has admitted the corruption scandal that has engulfed world football's governing body has made it hard to secure new World Cup sponsors. Valcke told a news conference in St Petersburg: "The current situation doesn't help to finalise any new agreements -- that is a fact. "And I'm sure until the [presidential] election on Feb. 26 there will not be any major announcements." He said he had organised a summit with existing partners, which will take place next month. In the meantime, no replacement has been signed up for Emirates and none of the 20 regional sponsorship slots have been agreed. The head of leading FIFA sponsor Visa has delivered a stinging attack on current president Sepp Blatter, claiming there can be no meaningful reforms until he leaves. Blatter insists he will remain in position until the election of his successor, and this week announced a task force to bring in reforms. But Visa chief executive Charlie Scharf said FIFA's response to the corruption crisis had been "wholly inadequate" and joined fellow sponsors Coca-Cola in demanding a fully independent reform commission.
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