FMSCI decided to come down on Hoosein's MAI

FMSCI decided to come down on Hoosein's MAI
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

BANGALORE, APRIL 28: The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs in India (FMSCI) officials and the representatives of its affiliates, on Thursday night, emerged out of the extra-ordinary general body meeting (EGM) at Hotel Atria palpably relieved. The most important item on the agenda was Nazir Hoosein's MAI (Motorsport Association of India) and sporting power.

After a four-hour session, the Federation seemed convinced of having the numbers (42 out of the 57 affiliated clubs attended the meeting and pledged support to FMSCI) to overwhelm Hoosein's fledgling MAI, which has been sitting on the FMSCI like a gadfly.

FMSCI chairman Vijay Mallya excoriated Hoosein for discrediting the Federation at the FIA (Federation International de Automobile) meeting late last year. ``Nazir was our (FMSCI) representative to the FIA. Though he was nominated by us, he acted against the interests of the Federation with the motive of gaining sporting power for MAI.''

``It was Nazir's persistent efforts to convince the FIA that the FMSCI was inefficient. The FIA then decided to send an observer to India to assess the functioning of FMSCI. Quite interestingly, the observer was accompanied by Nazir and he behaved strangely. It was blatant collusion by Nazir and the FIA observer to undermine FMSCI,'' charged Mallya.

``In October, the FIA suggested we restructure the Federation and co-operate with Nazir. In November, before FIA's annual general body meeting, Leon, a FIA observer, demanded we appoint five persons of FMSCI's and Nazir's choice to the Federation's board.''

``The demand seemed ridiculous for we are a democratically run body. The FMSCI constitution does not provide for appointment of members to the board. So we refused to accept the FIA dictates,'' the FMSCI chairman revealed.

``However, we invited Nazir to be the chairman of our Rally Commission. He accepted the offer but withdrew within two weeks. We tried to co-operate with him as much as possible, but he wasn't interested.''

Mallya contended Nazir's sole aim was to grab sporting power from FMSCI. ``He wanted to take over the governance of the sport by nomination process rather than democratic process,'' Mallya said.

According to Mallya, FMSCI's refusal to appoint five members to the board was construed by the FIA as refusal to restructure the Federation. ``Hence, the transfer of sporting power to MAI.''

Mallya came down heavily on Nazir for what he termed as ``mis-representing facts.''

``Nazir has sent out letters claiming sporting power has been granted to MAI. But the FMSCI got a letter from the FIA to the effect that the transfer of sporting power to MAI will be ratified by the FIA only at its generalbody meeting in October. So, technically, the FMSCI still has the sporting power,'' he declared.

Having forked out a `technical flaw' in FIA's decision to transfer sporting power to MAI, the Federation and its affiliates have decided to go on appeal to the International Motorsport Appeal Court in Paris. ``At the EGM, we expressed our intention to file an appeal,'' Mallya said.

FMSCI has roped in the services of two leading Supreme Court advocates, KK Venugopal and Fali Nariman, to draft the appeal.

The Federation has also decided to send letters, jointly signed by the FMSCI and its affiliated clubs (39 clubs have affixed their signatures), to the Government of India and Max Mosely, the FIA chief, praying ante-status quo.

Meanwhile, the Automobile Association of Upper India (AAUI) and the Automobile Association of Eastern India (AAEI) too have pledged their solidarity to the FMSCI, with the promise that they would take up the matter with the Government of India.

The other issue resolved at the EGM was to implement second set of national competition rules to encourage grassroot participation in smaller cities.

``The existing national competition rules conform to national events which are governed by international sporting codes. This calls for high standards and costs. The FMSCI, in order to promote motorsport in smaller towns in the country, has decided to formulate second set of national competition rules,'' Mallya disclosed.