FIFA axes staff after Mastercard decision

FIFA announced Monday that it has fired its director of marketing and three other employees in the wake of a ruling by a New York judge earlier this month that credit card company MasterCard can sponsor the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

MasterCard sued football's ruling body over the way sponsorship rights were awarded earlier this year, arguing that FIFA had signed a deal with rival Visa in April and ignored the fact that it had first refusal on hosting the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

FIFA is currently considering lodging an appeal against the December 7 decision but has already decided that its director of marketing & TV division, Jerome Valcke, and three other employees in the division have to go.

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