Former chief executive Adam Crozier established a ‘partners scheme’ where five blue-chip companies shared sponsorship under the banner ‘FA partners’. McDonald’s, Pepsi, Carlsberg, Nationwide and Umbro are signed up to a four-year deal that gives them equal prominence at England and FA Cup games.
Each partner paid around £20 million, but it is thought the FA may need to re-think the nature of the deal, due to expire at the end of the 2005-06 season.
The FA is already under financial pressure through its commitment to Wembley and the prospect of large severance payments being made to senior executives.
