Row Over Confidentiality Within the FIA

A row has broken out within the highest levels of the FIA, with the FIA facing significant controversy and potential legal action over a new confidentiality agreement introduced by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. 

The FIA insisted at short notice that World Council members sign the new, stricter non-disclosure agreement (NDA) or be barred from World Coucil meetings.  Amongst those barred from the last World Council meeting were Motorsport UK Chairman David Richards and the FIA’s own Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid.  

A group of Council members led by Richards objects to the agrement on several counts, most notably that the agreement considers everything confidential without qualification; that the FIA can unilaterally decide if anyone breaches the terms without due process and it can impose an immediate €50,000 fine for any breach, with a threat of further undisclosed damages.

Motorsport UK has threatened legal action against the FIA, with the dissenters argueing that barring elected members from meetings breaches FIA statutes.  Richards, writing in Motorsport UK’s house magazine said that he had supported Ben Sulayem’s election because he had promised to be a “hands-off president who would be non-executive and delegate the day-to-day running of the FIA to a professional executive team”, with the “appointment of an empowered and capable CEO to run the FIA to professional standards” and “full transparency of actions and the highest standards of sporting governance.”   Richards  and others feel those promises have not been fulfilled.

The FIA maintains that the new agreements are routine organisational procedures to protect confidential information and safeguard its interests.  The NDA addresses concerns that Ben Sulayem has had for a while about information leaking from the FIA.  Speaking at last year’s Qatar Grand Prix, Ben Sulayem said, “I’ve never seen any leakage like the FIA. It’s worse than a roof. 

This controversy comes in a year when the FIA president will either be re-elected or replaced and has the potential to impact Ben Sulayem’s position.