Motorsport UK chairman David Richards has threatened to take legal action against the FIA unless it addresses what he called an “erosion of accountability” under president Mohammed Ben Sulayem's leadership.
Writing an address to Motorsport UK members, Richards - who was recently prevented from attending a World Motor Sport Council meeting after refusing to sign a non-disclosure agreement - highlighted “concerns about the good governance within the FIA”.
In a lengthly missive, Richards explained his decision to initially back Ben Sulayem’s election campaign only to then outline how there had been “a distinct failure” to meet “promises” of full transparency.
He wrote: “For some time now, I've had concerns about the erosion of accountability and good governance within the FIA.
“As you may have seen in the press, an issue has recently emerged that has compelled me to take a stand and needs an explanation.
“First of all, let me turn the clock back to a little over three years ago when we, alongside the Royal Automobile Club, supported Mohammed Ben Sulayem in his bid to become the next president of the FIA.
“Many of you were possibly surprised that we didn't support the British candidate, Graham Stoker, but the [Motorsport UK] board met with both candidate teams and was convinced by the well thought out plans that Mohammed's campaign team presented, which very much aligned with our own views of the way the FIA should transform itself.
“The key messages in their presentation were: A hands-off president who would be non-executive and delegate the day-to-day running of the FlA to a professional executive team.
“The appointment of an empowered and capable CEO to run the FIA to professional standards.
“Full transparency of actions and the highest standards of sporting governance.”
Richards explained how he feels Ben Sulayem had failed to deliver on his manifesto promises and is also concerned about the recent departures from the FIA.
Ben Sulayem has also recently pushed through changes to the organisation’s governance structure to dilute the ethics and audit committee’s power.
Richards added: “I'm afraid that over the last three years there has been a distinct failure to meet these promises.
“In fact, the situation has progressively worsened with media reports confirming that numerous senior members of the FIA and volunteer officials have either been fired or have resigned under an opaque cloud.
“Furthermore, the scope of the audit and ethics committees has been severely limited and now lacks autonomy from the authority of the president, while our UK representative, who challenged certain matters, was summarily removed along with the chair of the audit committee.”
Richards explained that the FIA’s demands to sign an NDA then prompted him to speak out.
He said: “This has become increasingly worrying and the final straw for me, three weeks ago, was being asked to sign a new confidentiality agreement that I regarded as a gagging order.
“At the time of my appointment to the World Motor Sport Council in 2021, I signed a confidentiality agreement and in fact was already bound by Article 4 of the FIA Code of Ethics.
“I remain committed to my confidentiality obligations under this existing agreement and Article 4, which remain in effect.
“However, the new confidentiality agreement went far further than this and, at a week's notice, I was told that if I didn't sign it, I would be barred from the next World Motor Sport Council.”
Richards said the NDA meant the FIA “at its own discretion, could decide if anyone breached the terms of the new confidentiality agreement with no process or frame of reference”.
He also noted that any breach triggers “an immediate fine of €50,000 and a threat of undisclosed damages”.
He concluded that effectively creating a “gagging order on volunteer representatives is not how a member-owned and driven organisation should behave”.
Richards has now said Motorsport UK would take legal action against the FIA unless the issues raised are addressed.
It is a devastating blow to Ben Sulayem’s reputation in a year where he is preparing for re-election.
As yet, there is no opposition, however Richards’ strongly-worded letter is highly likely to cause a reaction in one way or another.
