18/01/2008
NEWS STORY
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In an interview with Jeff Papone for Toronto's Globe and Mail, three-time World Champion Jackie Stewart has hit back at FIA President Max Mosley, who last year described the Scot as a "certified halfwit".
Stewart, who was highly critical of the FIA's handling of last year's spy saga, had suggested that the governing body's pursuit of the Woking team had an element of 'personal agenda' about it, team boss Ron Dennis never having been what one might call Mosley's cup of tea.
Stewart's criticism of the way the spy saga was handled and the subsequent punishment, led to a stinging attack from Mosley, who poked fun at the Scot's dress sense (think tartan trews) and claimed he was an object of ridicule within the paddock.
In the latest round of what appears to be a war of words between the two, Stewart, who is understood to be taking legal action against the Englishman, casts doubt on Mosley's qualifications for the role of FIA President.
"This is a very heavily capital-invested sport and presently the President of the FIA is not paid and therefore he is part-time and an amateur," said the Scot. "How can you have that in a governing body of a sport that has so much power that it can inflict $100-million fines in a court that's almost run by the president?
"This could never happen in a normal business or legal structure," he continued, "and I think we have to change the infrastructure of the governing body. They have to headhunt a captain of industry and pay him accordingly to be an executive director or president who is not part-time and not an amateur."
Referring to Mosley's previous comments, Stewart said: "I thought it was totally inappropriate from a man in his position as president of the governing body of a major sporting organization to even think of speaking in a manner such as that.
"If the president of the International Olympic Committee said something like that about a gold medal winner, I think he would have lost his job."
Possibly coming next (not): Sweaty-sock Stewart has a silly high-pitched voice and wears a (tartan) skirt, says Mosley.