Excluded from a meeting, David Richards attacks the FIA ​​and Mohammed Ben Sulayem

One more for the FIA ​​and especially for its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. After the drivers of F1, those of the World Rally Championship, it is his counterparts of the national federations who have decided to raise their voices. At least, one president, that of Motorsport UK, the equivalent of the FFSA in the United Kingdom, David Richards.

Yet the two men had a good relationship to begin with, with the Englishman even supporting Mohammed Ben Sulayem during his candidacy to lead the FIA ​​in 2021. But apparently, last week's episode was the last straw. As a reminder, David Richard was excluded from a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council after refusing to sign a new confidentiality agreement presented to members by the Federation's highest official.

In an open letter to Motorsport UK members, David Richards expressed concerns about Mohammed Ben Sulayem's recently hardened policies. The UK representative believes that the latter has not kept his initial promises and does not rule out legal proceedings.

Recent events have "[me] forced to take a stand, David Richards begins his letter. This requires some explanation. The key points of his candidacy were: a non-executive chairman who would delegate the day-to-day management of the FIA ​​to a professional executive team; the appointment of a competent and empowered director general to lead the FIA ​​with professional standards; full transparency and adherence to the highest standards of sporting governance.

I fear that these promises have not been kept over the last three years. The situation has progressively deteriorated, with the press confirming that many senior FIA officials and volunteers have been dismissed or have resigned in total secrecy. In addition, the scope of the audit and ethics committees has been seriously restricted and now lacks autonomy from the authority of the President. (...)

When I was appointed to the World Motor Sport Council in 2021, I signed a confidentiality agreement and was in fact already bound by Article 4 of the FIA ​​Code of Ethics. I remain committed to my confidentiality obligations under that agreement and Article 4, which remain in force. However, the new confidentiality clause went much further and, with one week’s notice, I was told that if I did not sign it, I would be excluded from the next World Council. »

The Motorsport UK chairman objected to three specific clauses in the new confidentiality agreement, which he was keen to detail. He explained that with this agreement, everything " was now considered confidential, without any reservation, which prevented me from necessarily sharing information that I considered relevant.. » According to him, it is the FIA ​​« at its sole discretion " could decide whether someone was violating the terms of this new confidentiality agreement." without procedure or frame of reference " Finally, Richards reveals that a fine " immediate "50 euros is planned" for any infringement and a threat of undisclosed damages " This is unlikely to improve MBS's popularity rating, which is already low at the moment.

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