World soccer chief Sepp Blatter received another blow as his resignation was demanded by three top FIFA sponsor companies.
On Friday, US credit card giant Visa became the third top FIFA sponsor to call for Blatter's immediate resignation, following beverage company Coca-Cola and fast food chain McDonald's, Xinhua reported.
Blatter, 79, is under investigation by the Attorney General Office of Switzerland (OAG) over alleged mismanagement and misappropriation one week ago.
It was the first time FIFA's powerful financial backers had called explicitly for Blatter to resign.
Blatter's New York attorney Richard Cullen issued a statement saying the Swiss would not leave office.
Blatter "believes firmly that his leaving office now would not be in the best interest of FIFA nor would it advance the process of reform and therefore, he will not resign," it said.