Motorsport UK threatens taking legal action against FIA

Motorsport UK chairman David Richards has taken aim at the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and his governance of the sport, claiming the situation had “progressively worsened” under his 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 an Non-disclosure agreement, highlighted “concerns about the erosion of accountability and good governance within the FIA”.

In a lengthly missive, Richards explained his decision to initially backed Ben Sulayem’s election campaign only to explain how there had been “a distinct failure to meet these promises”.

He wrote: “For some time now l’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 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 explains how he feels Ben Sulayem had failed to deliver on his manifesto promises and is also concerned about the recent departures from the FIA.

David Richards and Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Ben Sulayem has also recently pushed through changes to the organisation’s governance structure to dilute the ethics and audit committee’s power.

He 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 further how “the final straw” was the FIA’s demands to sign an NDA.

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 | 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.”

In a worrying state of events, 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 trigger “an immediate fine of €50,000 for any breach and a threat of undisclosed damages”.

Richards has now offered a legal challenge to the FIA on its actions but has yet to receive a reply from the governing body. 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.