11/04/2008
NEWS STORY
While the Crown Prince of Bahrain urged Max Mosley not to attend the recent Grand Prix, the under-fire FIA President has received the backing of Mohammed ben Sulayem, president of the United Arab Emirates Automobile and Touring Club, organizer of all motorsport events in the UAE.
"I think it has been used for the wrong reasons," said ben Sulayem, according to reports. "Surely he did not break the law. This is something that is allowed there. I am a full supporter. If someone wants to use this for the wrong reasons, it is not acceptable.
"God gave us a very amazing gift not to forget. How fast can we forget what this man did for motor sport? Where it was and where it is now. He did not commit anything that weakens the FIA. We as members of the FIA elected him."
Ben Sulayem's support for Mosley comes at a welcome time, especially since the UAE is not normally known for its liberal view on such matters.
It all demonstrates why Mosley is keen to see the Extraordinary General Meeting of the FIA in June, for it proves that while some are outraged by the recent revelations, others are not. Furthermore, much of the outrage is directed at the alleged Nazi element to the News of the World's video tape, the very element that Mosley strenuously denies.
Meanwhile, it is understood that plans for the launch of the FIA's anti racism campaign at Barcelona later this month have been dropped, not because of the current saga but because the Spanish authorities do not believe such a campaign is needed.
The FIA announced the 'Race Against Racism' campaign in the wake of the disgraceful scenes during testing in February, when Lewis Hamilton was subjected to various forms of racial abuse.