MotorsportUK chairman David Richards has accused FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem of a “shift in the moral compass” of the organisation, escalating a deepening rift at the heart of global motorsport governance.
In a blistering open letter, Richards slammed the FIA for what he described as a troubling decline in “transparency, accountability, and integrity.” The move follows his exclusion from a recent FIA World Council meeting after refusing to sign a controversial confidentiality agreement demanded of its members.
Heart of the dispute
The heart of the dispute lies in Richards’ refusal to sign the updated confidentiality agreement, one he claims lacks clear procedures for breach evaluation and any form of independent arbitration. Richards has not only questioned the terms but has also hinted at broader issues of centralised control under Ben Sulayem’s leadership.
“The governance and constitutional structure of the FIA is becoming ever more opaque,” Richards wrote, warning of an unhealthy concentration of power in the president’s hands. “This is not just my concern. Others have raised similar issues.”
Legal Clouds and Leaks
Richards has not backed down from legal threats first made last month, suggesting the matter may yet be resolved in court. Meanwhile, the FIA’s general manager, Alberto Villarreal, fired back, defending the confidentiality agreements as standard procedure and questioning why Richards wouldn’t agree to the same terms as his colleagues.
“We struggle to understand your reluctance,” Villarreal said, noting past leaks from the World Motorsport Council have damaged the FIA’s credibility.
Richards acknowledged that sensitive information has made its way to the media in recent years but stopped short of directly admitting to WMSC leaks. Instead, he called for an open conversation with the FIA’s legal counsel to find a resolution, revealing that Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder for Formula 1, was granted a modified version of the agreement after raising similar objections.
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“I’ve not been given that opportunity,” Richards said. “Other stakeholders have had their concerns accommodated, why not me?”
Leadership battle?
The feud couldn’t come at a more politically charged time. With Ben Sulayem up for re-election later this year, speculation is swirling about a potential challenger. Richards, at 72, is ineligible to stand due to the FIA’s presidential age cap, but insiders, as per BBC.com, suggest at least one alternative candidate is waiting in the wings.
Despite the criticism, Richards was careful to credit the FIA for its recent achievements. “There’s much to be proud of,” he wrote, “but we cannot ignore the erosion of transparency under current leadership.”
The FIA, for its part, has declined to issue further comment beyond Villarreal’s response.
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