The Automobile Federation of Ukraine (FAU) has formally appealed to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to impose sanctions on the Russian Automobile Federation. The Ukrainian body alleges that its Russian counterpart has opened offices in occupied areas of Ukraine, specifically Crimea, the city of Sevastopol and the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, territories recognised by the United Nations as part of Ukrainian sovereignty.
The FAU argues that such activity would breach FIA rules, which allow only one automobile club or national sporting authority for each country. Its latest intervention comes amid renewed controversy over the governing body’s policy towards Russian and Belarusian participation in international motorsport.
Ukraine challenges FIA decision on Russian and Belarusian competitors
The dispute follows a decision adopted by the FIA World Motor Sport Council on 3 August to lift the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes participating in international competitions. The restrictions had been introduced in February 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and followed guidance from the International Olympic Committee, with which the FIA is affiliated. Other sporting organisations, including World Athletics, have not changed their position.
The Ukrainian federation has expressed deep indignation at what it describes as prolonged inaction by the global governing body. It says it has already lodged appeals with the FIA Senate and FIA Ethics Committee without receiving a response, while a case has also been filed with the FIA International Court of Appeal.
FAU president Oleksander Feldman calls for FIA action
FAU president Oleksander Feldman has written directly to Mohammed Ben Sulayem, stating: “Such short-sighted and counterproductive inaction is unworthy of the representatives of a global governing body. The current situation could have catastrophic consequences for the FIA’s international standing.”
Oleksander Feldman continued: “This is a dangerous precedent that opens the way for affiliated organisations to disregard other provisions of the statutes and regulations, potentially leading to chaos and putting the future of the FIA as an institution at risk.”
In the letter, he calls for the suspension of Russia’s FIA membership, the restoration of strict restrictions on the participation of Russian athletes and a public statement from the FIA declaring that “the forced redistribution of sporting authority is unacceptable”.
Ukrainian government also opposes FIA policy change
A week earlier, Ukrainian Minister of Youth and Sports Matvii Bidnyi had also criticised the change in policy.
“The reasons why Russia was excluded from international sporting competitions have not disappeared. Nothing has changed and, in fact, it has become worse. Russia continues its full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Belarus continues to provide military support to Russia. Ukrainian people are still being killed every day. And Russian attacks are becoming increasingly brutal,” Matvii Bidnyi said.
He continued: “I do not understand, and neither do the Ukrainian people — and I know people across Europe do not understand — what has happened, or why we now have to make this policy softer.”
Russian Embassy welcomes FIA decision
The Russian Embassy in London responded by defending the FIA’s decision and opposing restrictions based on nationality.
“Excluding Russian athletes from international competitions amounts to segregation based on nationality and is incompatible with the principles of the Olympic Charter. The FIA’s decision to lift the restrictions on Russian athletes in international motorsport is a step in the right direction. It shows that common sense is gradually prevailing over political bias in major sporting federations.”
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