Germany's ADAC calls on Mosley to step down
Max Mosley faced more pressure to resign as president of the International Motoring Federation (FIA) after Germany's national motoring body, ADAC, asked him to "reconsider" his position on Friday.
Mosley faces mounting pressure to give up his post as president of FIA, world motoring and motorsport's ruling body, following lurid revelations about his private life last weekend.
The British Sunday newspaper News of the World alleged Mosley, the 67-year-old son of former British fascist party leader Oswald Mosley, was involved in a Nazi-style sex orgy with prostitutes in London last Friday.
In their statement on Friday, ADAC said it confirmed that it had written to Mosley asking him to consider his future, as it did not feel it appropriate he could continue in his role against the backdrop of the scandal.
"In a letter to FIA president Max Mosley, the ADAC has distanced itself from events surrounding his person," ADAC said.
"According to the ADAC, the role of an FIA president who represents more than 100 million motorists worldwide should not be burdened by such an affair. Therefore, we ask the president to "very carefully reconsider his role within the organisation."
"According to the ADAC, the appropriate FIA process has to take care of the matter. It is in the interests of this world organisation to carry on with its duties without the burden of this affair."
Mosley has not denied the incident took place but did deny that there were any Nazi connotations.
He has also indicated he is preparing action against the newspaper alleging "invasion of privacy" and he has said he will fight to remain president of the FIA.
He already faces a chorus of calls to resign from throughout world motorsport and leading car-builders BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Toyota have all issued statements distancing themselves from the affair and calling for Mosley to act.
Mosley wrote to all FIA national bodies, including the ADAC, earlier this week to apologise for any embarrassment that the affair had caused.
He made it clear he had no intention of stepping down.
"I have received a very large number of messages of sympathy and support from those within the FIA and the motor sport and motoring communities generally, suggesting that my private life is not relevant to my work and that I should continue in my role," wrote Mosley in the letter.
"I am grateful and with your support I intend to follow this advice."
When told of the joint statement by BMW and Mercedes-Benz, he referred to their activities before and during World War II and said he understood why they wished to distance themselves from the alleged orgy. But he said also that it was unfortunate that they had not consulted him before issuing their statements.
Comments
See Also
Mosley faces mounting pressure to give up his post as president of FIA, world motoring and motorsport's ruling body, following lurid revelations about his private life last weekend.
The British Sunday newspaper News of the World alleged Mosley, the 67-year-old son of former British fascist party leader Oswald Mosley, was involved in a Nazi-style sex orgy with prostitutes in London last Friday.
In their statement on Friday, ADAC said it confirmed that it had written to Mosley asking him to consider his future, as it did not feel it appropriate he could continue in his role against the backdrop of the scandal.
"In a letter to FIA president Max Mosley, the ADAC has distanced itself from events surrounding his person," ADAC said.
"According to the ADAC, the role of an FIA president who represents more than 100 million motorists worldwide should not be burdened by such an affair. Therefore, we ask the president to "very carefully reconsider his role within the organisation."
"According to the ADAC, the appropriate FIA process has to take care of the matter. It is in the interests of this world organisation to carry on with its duties without the burden of this affair."
Mosley has not denied the incident took place but did deny that there were any Nazi connotations.
He has also indicated he is preparing action against the newspaper alleging "invasion of privacy" and he has said he will fight to remain president of the FIA.
He already faces a chorus of calls to resign from throughout world motorsport and leading car-builders BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Toyota have all issued statements distancing themselves from the affair and calling for Mosley to act.
Mosley wrote to all FIA national bodies, including the ADAC, earlier this week to apologise for any embarrassment that the affair had caused.
He made it clear he had no intention of stepping down.
"I have received a very large number of messages of sympathy and support from those within the FIA and the motor sport and motoring communities generally, suggesting that my private life is not relevant to my work and that I should continue in my role," wrote Mosley in the letter.
"I am grateful and with your support I intend to follow this advice."
When told of the joint statement by BMW and Mercedes-Benz, he referred to their activities before and during World War II and said he understood why they wished to distance themselves from the alleged orgy. But he said also that it was unfortunate that they had not consulted him before issuing their statements.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.