Stewart calls for Mosley to go

Jackie Stewart has called for FIA president Max Mosley to “do the honourable thing” and quit his post after lurid reports about his private life.

Mosley yesterday confirmed he was taking legal action against the News of the World after shocking revelations in the Sunday tabloid last weekend.

A number of motoring associations and Formula One teams have called for Mosley to resign from his post, and Stewart believes he must go.

“It is time Max Mosley did the honourable thing and resigned,” Stewart, a long-time adversary of Mosley, told the News of the World.

“There is not an organisation in the world, be it a public corporation or the FA or the PGA, that would allow this to dribble on.

“Does Max not realise that what he did was offensive to lots of people?

“The longer he stays then the more damage is being done.

“Under any normal circumstances Max should retire for the future of the sport and its good name.

“It’s no longer a private matter. Had it not got into the public domain, I dare say Max could have continued as president of the FIA.

“But it’s now untenable for that to happen, because he is president of a global federation that services different cultures, different religions and different morals in different parts of the world.”

The American Automobile Association, the world’s largest motoring organisation with more than 50 million members, are demanding Mosley stand down “in the best interests of all concerned”.

A statement issued by Yolanda Clark Cade, managing director of AAA public relations, read: “Recent events involving the leadership of the FIA have been very distressing and embarrassing.

“Whilst this matter may be viewed as private by some, the damage to the image of the FIA and its constituents is clearly public.

“For an organisation, and its leader, to exercise the moral authority required to represent millions of motorists and sanction the activities of motorsport they must uphold the highest standards of ethical behaviour.

“AAA recognises Mr Mosley has dedicated many years of his life to advancing the interests of mobility and motorsport.

“However, after careful consideration, AAA has conveyed to Mr Mosley that it would be in the best interest of all concerned if he were to step down.”

But in a letter addressed to Peter Meyer, president of Germany’s motoring federation ADAC, and sent to all facets of the FIA and World Council members, Mosley maintains his actions were “harmless and completely legal”.

The letter reads: “Had I been caught driving excessively fast on a public road or over the alcohol limit (even in, say, Sweden where it is very low) I should have resigned the same day.

“As it is, a scandal paper obtained by illegal means pictures of something I did in private which, although unacceptable to some people, was harmless and completely legal.

“Many people do things in their bedrooms or have personal habits which others find repugnant. But as long as they keep them private, nobody objects.

“The offence seems to be not what I did but the fact that it became public.

“But I played no role in this, indeed I did my utmost to ensure it remained private. I was the victim of a disgusting conspiracy.

“It goes without saying that the so-called Nazi element is pure fabrication.

“This will become crystal clear when the matter comes to trial.

“The newspaper invented this in order to spice up their story and introduce my family background.

“In short, I think I have done nothing wrong and that the wrong was done by the newspaper. That is why I am suing them.

“I don’t think any of this should affect my work on motoring safety, the environment or the sport.

“I believe that 21st century adults do not worry about private sexual matters as long as they are legal and harmless.

“I shall put this view to the Assembly in due course.”

The News of the World insist they stand by their story.

A meeting of the extraordinary general assembly is due to take place before the end of the month, most likely in Paris.

The assembly comprises 222 national motoring organisations in 130 countries, and it is in their hands Mosley’s fate rests.

ADAC, along with the Dutch federation KNAF, Israeli body MEMSI and now the AAA have all condemned Mosley.

However, in the letter Mosley states he has the support of 20 FIA clubs and representatives of some additional 50 clubs to remain in office.

But there are many who believe his position is untenable, with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone refusing to outright offer his support of a man he has been friendly with for the last 40 years.