Many of NFL's major sponsors have raised their concerns over the leagues controversy as of late.
Major sponsors including Anheuser-Busch as well as McDonalds have raised their displeasure over the recent controversy that NFL is facing. But this did not mean that they will be pulling out their sponsorship.
According to Anheuser-Busch, they have talked to NFL about their concerns saying "We are disappointed and increasingly concerned by the recent incidents that have overshadowed this NFL season."
"We are not yet satisfied with the league's handling of behaviors that so clearly go against our own company culture and moral code. We have shared our concerns and expectations with the league."
The NFL has been plagued with controversies this year ranging from domestic violence cases and drug test failures form players.
First was the issue with Baltimore's Ray Rice having been recorded hitting his then fiancée Janay Rice inside an elevator. According to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, they were not aware that there was a second video before it hit the internet last September. After that unfortunate incident, another NFL player from the Minnesota Vikings, Adrian Peterson was indicted for child abuse after news broke out of him hitting his son.
Aside from Anheuser-Busch and McDonalds, Visa and Campbell Soup Co said that they have also voiced their concern to the league.
But among these sponsors, it was only the Radisson hotels who pulled out their sponsorship from the Minnesota Vikings.
NFL responded to the sponsors' statements late Tuesday with a short statement of its own saying "We understand. We are taking action and there will be much more to come."
According to Jim Andrews, senior vice president of content strategy at IEG "It takes something pretty dramatic before those league sponsors who have invested in some cases hundreds of millions in their relationship with NFL seek to end their partnership or do something like that. hey follow the fans. They will be constantly monitoring and testing the waters to see what the fan reaction to this is."
McDonald's also issued a similar statement as with Anheuser-Busch saying "we have questions surrounding these evolving situations and are closely monitoring as the appropriate parties investigate these matters. Communicated our concerns to the league, and we expect it to take strong and necessary actions to address these issues."