The Ukrainian Automobile Federation (FAU) has escalated pressure on international motorsport’s governing body, demanding that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem take decisive action against the Russian Automobile Federation. The FAU’s formal appeal centers on Russia’s alleged operation of offices within occupied Ukrainian territories—a breach the Ukrainian authority views as incompatible with membership in a global sporting organization.
Demands for suspension and sanctions
FAU President Oleksander Feldman has directly appealed to Ben Sulayem with two primary requests: suspension of Russia’s FIA membership and reinstatement of strict restrictions limiting Russian athletes’ participation in international motorsport competitions. The correspondence represents an official stance from Ukraine’s national motorsport authority that current FIA inaction threatens the credibility of the international governing body.
Feldman’s message pulled no punches regarding the FIA’s perceived passivity on the matter. “Such short-sighted and counterproductive inaction is unbecoming of representatives of a global governing body. The current situation could have catastrophic consequences for the FIA’s global standing,” the FAU president wrote.
Broader implications for international sport
Beyond the suspension demand, the FAU is calling for a public statement from the FIA condemning the redistribution of sporting authority in occupied territories. This request underscores Ukrainian concerns that the Russian Automobile Federation’s continued operations represent an implicit endorsement of territorial claims within Ukraine.
The appeal from the FAU carries backing from Ukraine’s government institutions. Matvii Bidnyi, Ukrainian Minister for Youth and Sport, has aligned with the federation’s position, signaling that this dispute extends beyond automotive circles into matters of national policy and international relations.
The situation places the FIA at an intersection of sporting governance and geopolitical tension, with the Ukrainian Automobile Federation making clear that its leadership views the federation’s response as a defining test of international motorsport’s commitment to principles beyond competition itself.