Mosley vote could be too close to call

Max Mosley’s fate as president of the FIA will finally be decided tomorrow, 64 days after allegations about his private life surfaced and having resisted all calls to resign.

On March 31 the News of the World published lurid details about Mosley’s private life.

Mosley has not denied these claims – insisting what he did was “harmless and completely legal” – but he has strongly refuted the Nazi connotation implied in the article, whilst also fervently bemoaning the invasion of his privacy.

On this premise, the 68-year-old has launched a legal case against the Sunday tabloid in pursuit of clearing his name and claiming unlimited damages which, should he win, will be donated to charity.

Before then, Mosley faces a vote of confidence into whether he is fit to continue in a role he has held for 15 years, and one he is determined to see through to the end of his current mandate of October next year.

An extraordinary hearing of the FIA’s general assembly will sit in judgement on Mosley, and by all accounts, the vote would appear to be too close to call.

Up until a week ago Mosley supporters, and those close to him, were confident their man would win the secret ballot, to be held in the building adjacent to the headquarters of motorsport’s governing body on the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

But in the intervening period, a groundswell of negativity has now cast enough doubt to undermine the previously optimistic overtures.

Last Wednesday, a heavyweight contingent of motoring associations wrote a letter to Mosley imploring him to resign, claiming the FIA is “in a critical situation. Its image, reputation and credibility are being severely eroded”.

Mosley, as he has consistently done since the News of the World article came to light, resisted their demands.

But less than 72 hours later, and more pertinently, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone for the first time publicly voiced his private thoughts, and called for Mosley to quit.

“The big problem is he can no longer represent the FIA worldwide because of these incidents,” remarked Ecclestone.

“The general feeling is that people would no longer be comfortable speaking to him in the same way.

“I have spoken to Max about this and advised him to stand down in November, and not to go to the vote.”

However, Mosley has defiantly repeated his right to privacy, to such a degree Lord Stevens has conducted an investigation into whether there was a conspiracy against him, and if so, by whom.

Leading QC Anthony Scrivener, a member of the FIA Court of Appeal, was also tasked with discovering whether the News of the World’s ’Nazi’ claim had any basis of truth.

Mosley is due to reveal details of both inquiries when he addresses the members of the general assembly, who will have flown from all over the world to listen, and then deliver their verdict.

Mosley has tried to conduct business as usual, but he has been snubbed by royalty in Bahrain, Spain and Monaco.

Manufacturing giants BMW, Mercedes, Honda and Toyota have all voiced their concerns; many motoring clubs have had their say, whilst popular F1 figures such as Sir Jackie Stewart have given their opinion.

The problem is going forward because, Stewart argues, there is no way Mosley could possibly represent the FIA in arenas such as the European parliament or in meeting heads of state.

And then there is Ecclestone, who added: “He should stand down out of responsibility for the institution he represents, including F1.

“Everyone I speak to in a position of authority across F1 rings me to say he should leave. It is regretful he has not made that decision.”

So it comes down to the general assembly that comprises 222 clubs - representing both the sporting side such as Motor Sports Association, and the automobile side, like the AA and RAC – in 130 countries.

It is understood only around 180 will be eligible to vote as the remainder have not paid their dues within the last month to the FIA.

With the vote seemingly on a knife-edge, the crucial element will be those who decide to abstain out of a desire to avoid being seen as pro or anti-Mosley.

But it is understood in this particular confidence motion – where a majority is deemed as half plus one – an abstention would count against Mosley, and so could prove crucial.

The FIA face potential anarchy if Mosley survives the vote, with a number of high-profile clubs likely to push for a breakaway faction.

It may be that Mosley’s problems, and those of the FIA, will only just be starting.