ZURICH - World football's governing body, FIFA, said on Thursday that it feared the financial impact of the collapse of its main product licensing agent, Singapore-based Global Brands Group (GBG).

"FIFA is very concerned about the situation as it has financial consequences not only for FIFA, but also for employees and other third parties as well as seriously damage the reputation of the FIFA brand," it said in a statement e-mailed to AFP.

"FIFA is sad to hear about the bankruptcy of GBG and would like to extend its sympathy to the GBG employees who are affected by this situation," FIFA said, confirming a report in the Swiss weekly Handelszeitung.

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Football's governing body appointed GBG as its exclusive worldwide licensing representative five years ago under a contract stretching from 2007 to 2014, also allowing it to operate its stores.

The deal covered licensing for branded products for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups in South Africa and Brazil, FIFA confirmed, such as sports and fashion goods.

It gave no figures on revenues or potential losses, but Handelszeitung reported that FIFA earned about 53 million Swiss francs (32 million euros, $43 million) from merchandise licensing for the World Cup in Germany in 2006.

Nine years ago FIFA plunged into financial trouble after World Cup TV rights marketing partner ISMM/ISL collapsed in controversial circumstances, also sparking legal fallout and internal wrangling amid claims of illicit payments.

Zurich-based FIFA said it was still assessing GBG's bankruptcy and trying to contact companies that had licensing contracts with the Singapore company.

The first GBG run store was opened at Singapore's Changi Airport in 2008, with others planned in London, Tokyo and Los Angeles.

Citing marketing and ex-company executives, Handelszeitung reported GBG's running costs far exceeded its revenues, with high payouts to some managers.

It reportedly went into liquidation in recent weeks with debts of about $150 million.

Former staff had also taken legal action against the company, according to the weekly.

FIFA said it had only recently learnt of GBG's financial situation.

It added it had sought to allow the firm to build up a sustainable business when it struck the deal, by agreeing on a minimum guarantee "which was significantly less than the revenues obtained by FIFA for the 2006 FIFA World Cup".

Agence France-Presse