Motorsport UK chairman threatens legal action against FIA over breach of governance rules
The chairman of Motorsport UK, David Richards, is threatening legal action against the FIA over recent governance changes that he claims violate the organization's statutes.
Richards, who initially supported Mohammed Ben Sulayem's FIA presidential bid in 2021, was barred from a World Motor Sport Council meeting for refusing to sign an additional confidentiality agreement. He argues this exclusion violates FIA Statutes requiring all elected members to have full meeting access.
Racing car on track during competition
In an open letter to Motorsport UK members, Richards outlined three failed promises from Ben Sulayem's campaign:
- Hands-off leadership
- Appointment of an empowered CEO
- Full transparency of actions
Key concerns raised include:
- Multiple senior FIA members and volunteers leaving under unclear circumstances
- Restricted scope of Audit and Ethics Committees
- Removal of UK representative and Audit Committee Chair
- Limited WMSC functionality through e-voting practices
- Implementation of what Richards describes as a "gagging order"
After being barred from the WMSC meeting and receiving no response to legal challenges, Richards announced potential further legal action. He emphasized Motorsport UK's commitment to transparency and accountability, citing alignment with Sport England and UK Sport's Governance Code.
The situation gains additional significance as the FIA approaches its next presidential election, with Richards vowing to hold the organization accountable on behalf of global motorsport members.
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