Formula and the FIA have faced a difficult couple of months. The sport has been surrounded by controversies including two severe allegations on FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The 62-year-old was cleared by the Ethics Committee of the sports governing body after an investiagtion. Now, Ben Sulayem has received support from several FIA member clubs.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem had addressed a letter to the members of the sports governing body claiming that the allegations against him were an attack to the FIA. The Emirati was accused of interfering with an F1 race result and allegedly trying to withhold the Las Vegas GP.
Representatives from 30 member clubs in the Americas have now sent a letter to the FIA President. The clubs recommend that the sports governing body should take legal action against those who accused and slandered the FIA and Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
[Clubs] recommend that the FIA initiate legal action against those who, without cause, slander the FIA and its leadership. Official letter as reported by Autosport
Moreover, the clubs stated that the allegations against the FIA which were published on various media outlets were primarily focused on causing harm to the sports governing body and its leadership. The letter even even highlighted that the FIA Ethics Committee found that Mohammed Ben Sulayem had acted honorably and transparently.
[The accusations] were intended for the sole purpose of causing harm to the FIA and its leadership, particularly the President. The letter stated
FIA clubs endorse ‘public vote of confidence’ to Mohammed Ben Sulayem
The representatives affirmed that the selection of the FIA President was done following the statutes of the governing body. Moreover, any intervention from an outside organization had no impact on the office of Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The letter endorsed a public vote of confidence for Ben Sulayem from the 30 clubs. The representatives stated that the 62-year-old had continued to fulfill his commitment of transforming the FIA and ensure transparency. It must be noted that previously, Lewis Hamilton had slammed the FIA over a lack of transparency on a conflict of interest investigation against Susie Wolff.
We endorse and ratify our vote of confidence in support of Mr. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, for his stewardship of the FIA and his progress to fulfilling his commitment to transform the FIA in an ethical and transparent manner in order to better serve its members. The representatives wrote
Fabiana Ecclestone, the Vice President of South America for Sports and wife of ex-F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone had also signed this letter.
The clubs of 30 countries seem to have full faith on Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The FIA President was in need of support from the members after facing severe backlash from fans and critics in recent weeks. However, it will be interesting to see how the F1 grid reacts to Ben Sulayem’s strengthened position.
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