MSA says not judging Mosley affair

Britain`s national body for motor racing, the Motor Sports Association (MSA), says it will not comment on the ongoing controversy surrounding FIA president Max Mosley prior to the extraordinary general assembly meeting scheduled for June 3.

Although a number of national motoring and motor sport bodies have come out and declared their feelings on the situation, the MSA has so far refused to comment.

In a statement issued by it on Friday, the MSA made clear that it would not change its stance as it hoped the matter could be sorted out behind closed doors in Paris in June.

“The Motor Sports Association (MSA), the governing body for motor sports in the United Kingdom, has been carefully monitoring the matters currently surrounding the Presidency of the Federation Internationale de l`Automobile (FIA),” said the statement.

“The MSA, like the vast majority of the 222 voting members of the FIA, will refrain from making any judgement or comment on the issue prior to the Extraordinary General Assembly that has been called by the FIA for 3rd June.

“The issues over the Presidency are matters that should, and will, be resolved by Member Clubs under the Statutes of the FIA. It would be inappropriate for the MSA to pre-empt this meeting, and the decisions made therein, by making any comments beforehand.

“That other organisations (particularly those that are non-FIA affiliated) and individuals have chosen to express their views publicly on the issue, is entirely up to them.

“If they are not members of the FIA, they do not have the benefit of the official forum in which to discuss and vote on the matter, as the MSA has. Nor do they have a responsibility, as members of the FIA, to follow the full and proper process.

“At all times, the MSA will continue to represent the best interests of British motor sport. The MSA has received a number of views in recent days and these will be carefully considered and properly represented at the Extraordinary General Assembly in June.”

Several bodies, including the highly influence American Automobile Association, have called for Mosley to resign over the scandal surrounding his private life.

However, not everyone has been so critical, with the Automobile and Touring Club of the United Arab Emirates stating that it supported Mosley`s stance in not resigning over the matter.

11.4.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ Mosley    ▪ www.autosport.com