Ructions in the upper echelons of the FIA continue with the resignation of the deputy president for motorsport, Robert Reid.
In a robust statement circulated via his social media accounts, Reid said, “After deep reflection, I have made the difficult decision to resign as FIA deputy president for sport. I took on this role to help deliver greater transparency, stronger governance, and more collaborative leadership.
“Over time, those principles have been increasingly set aside and I can no longer, in good faith, remain part of a system that no longer reflects them.
“Stepping away was not easy, however staying would have meant compromising what I believe in. This is about principles, not politics.
“Motorsport deserves leadership rooted in integrity, accountability and respect for process. That’s the minimum standard we should all expect and demand.”
Reid’s resignation follows considerable disquiet from senior members of the motorsport community, which came to a head recently when several members of the WMSC were barred from a recent meeting after not signing a new non-disclosure agreement. This drew criticism from Motorsport UK head David Richards, who threatened legal action.
In an open letter to Motorsport UK members in early March, Richards wrote, “For some time now I’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.”
The main direction of Richard’s argument centred on promises made during FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s election campaign around the method of governance the FIA would adopt, particularly on the matter of transparency.
Richards continued, “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.
“Various techniques have also been deployed with the effect of limiting the proper function of the World Motor Sport Council, primarily the use of e-voting which removes the opportunity for much needed discussion and debate on key subjects.”
FIA general manager Alberto Villarreal submitted a letter in response to Richards, which effectively dismissed his concerns around transparency and accountability, and highlighted the FIA’s work of the past three years.
In a further written response on April 9, Richards stated, “What is disappointing in this letter from Alberto is the disregard for the very real concerns that have been expressed, not just by myself, but a growing number of people, that the governance and constitutional organisation of the FIA is becoming ever more opaque and concentrating power in the hands of the President alone.”
