Mosley’s refusal to resign, or even accept a compromise agreement, in the wake of lurid allegations about his private life has amazed senior figures within the motoring organisations.
That has resulted in a letter being sent to Mosley imploring him to step down ahead of next Tuesday’s confidence vote in Paris to spare the governing body further embarrassment and damage.
A section of the letter reads: “We strongly believe that the only respectable way forward for the FIA, and for yourself, is to have an orderly transition, with an immediate agreement and your commitment to step down.”
The suggestion was proposed by the World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism (WCAMT), a senior body of the FIA.
The letter added: “We deeply regret your refusal to accept the proposal by the members of WCAMT to reach an agreement for you to step down at the General Assembly in the coming month of November.
“This is a constructive effort to facilitate an orderly transition within the FIA and to find a solution to the present crisis.
“Instead, your intention to remain until the end of your term in 2009, in spite of the severe damage being inflicted to the FIA, could imply putting personal considerations before the interests of the FIA and its member clubs.”
UPDATE: May 30, 2008 01:40 am
Mosley has worked tirelessly to build the status of the FIA as a body with clout in industrial and political circles. He has also worked his constituency assiduously to ensure he survives the vote of confidence in Paris on Tuesday. Despite the latest addition to his postbag, he believes he will be given a mandate to continue.
“I did not accept the proposal from some (but not, as you incorrectly suggest, all) members of the Mobility World Council because it was the worst possible solution,” Mosley wrote in response to the clubs.
“I would have resigned, yet still spent the summer carrying out all the day-to-day work with neither the time nor the authority to complete the major outstanding tasks. Better to stop immediately than accept this muddled compromise.
“As I said in my earlier letters, the communications I received from club presidents were overwhelmingly in favour of my remaining as president. I therefore had no choice but to submit the question to the FIA membership as a whole.”
“Your suggestion of a “crisis” is nonsense. Although I am personally embarrassed and greatly regret that this affair has become public, no one fails to call for roadside assistance because of it.”
“Some of the larger clubs among those who have signed your letter have previously contradicted their claimed commitment to the FIA,” he states. “These same clubs have, of course, been trying to change the structure of the FIA since well before the events they now seek to exploit. As stated in my letter of 23 May, several of these same clubs have formed groups separate from the FIA from which the wider FIA membership is excluded. Worse, they have obstructed our efforts to improve cooperation between all clubs.”
Mosley wrote to the member federations 10 days ago warning that Bernie Ecclestone would take full control of F1 if he is forced to resign. Ecclestone denies that his rights-holding company — Formula One Management — wants to play a regulating role. The 24 clubs made clear in the letter that they accept Ecclestone’s explanations.
“We take note of (Ecclestone’s) point on the importance that the FIA be led by a credible and respected president,” the letter said. “We believe that his explanations put in due perspective the state of the relationship between the FIA and the Formula One world, taking away relevance to many of the arguments you make in your letter to justify your continuity.”
Mosley called Ecclestone’s letter “a sudden and major change in position.”
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