The United Kingdom’s motorsport body, Motorsport UK, has criticised the FIA’s response to an open letter written last month threatening legal action against the Formula 1 governing body.
Motorsport UK Chair David Richards penned an open letter last month, after he was barred from a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, along with a number of other members who refused to sign a new ‘confidentiality agreement’ which they felt had been “forced upon them.”
“The construction of this new confidentiality agreement does not comply with the Statutes of the FIA and contradicts the promise of transparent governance we had voted for,” Richards wrote in a letter to members of Motorsport UK, threatening the FIA with legal action in the process.
FIA’s General Manager Alberto Villarreal wrote a letter in response on Monday, in which he said: “We struggle to understand your reluctance to be bound by the same terms and conditions as your fellow members, given you acknowledge the damage the numerous leaks from the World Motor Sport Council have made to the FIA’s mission.
“As a responsible member of the Council and someone who operates with integrity, I trust that you could have no reasonable objection to an agreement which simply serves to reinforce existing duties of confidentiality, and which is in line with best practice for an organisation of the FIA’s responsibilities and standing.
“There is no question of this being a “gagging order” as your letter characterises it.
“Under the leadership of its President, the FIA is delivering a lasting and positive legacy in support of the Federation’s global mission.”
Motorsport UK’s latest comments towards the FIA
Richards’ original letter was critical of president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s running of the FIA, saying he failed on the promise of a “hands-off” approach to governing motorsport, instead “delegating the day-to-day running of the FIA to a professional executive team.”
That was one of several concerns, which Richards has reiterated in his response to Villarreal’s Monday letter.
“What is disappointing in this letter from Alberto is the disregard for the very real concerns that have been expressed, not just by myself, but a growing number of people, that the governance and constitutional organisation of the FIA is becoming ever more opaque and concentrating power in the hands of the President alone,” Richards wrote.
“My current issue is with a requirement to sign an amended confidentiality agreement that doesn’t contain a clear procedure for evaluating a breach nor an independent process in the event of a dispute.
“I stand by my statement that this is in effect a ‘gagging order’ and yet these points are simply batted away by Alberto, the FIA General Manager. Furthermore, the subsequent action to exclude me from the WMSC meeting is in contravention with the FIA Statutes and unlawful under French law.
“I very much hope that despite Alberto’s letter, dismissing these material issues, we might yet have a sensible discussion with the legal counsel of the FIA and resolve these points.
“They are not insurmountable, but as currently written they are wholly inappropriate. So much so that various other parties have expressed the same concerns which has resulted in adaptations to the agreements that they have signed. That opportunity has not yet been afforded to me.
“So, in conclusion, there are many things to be proud of that the FIA team in Geneva have achieved over the last three years. But we cannot allow a shift of the moral compass of our leadership to simply dismiss any request for transparency and open discourse.
“I am in the Middle East for the next week and hope that I may meet with the FIA President to express my views face to face and agree an acceptable outcome.”
Richards made it clear that he has “the highest respect for the team at the FIA who work tirelessly on behalf of the sport and their achievements over the last three years,” and that he hopes for “open and transparent dialogue.”
READ MORE – Motorsport UK threatens FIA with legal action over lack of transparency
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