Mosley survives confidence vote

Max Mosley's call for unity is set to fall on deaf ears after he won a vital vote of confidence that will see him remain in his role as FIA president.

Mosley comfortably won the day, claiming 61% of the vote, with 103 of the 169 involved in the secret ballot deciding he should remain in office, but the decision did not sit well with the automobile associations who had previously called on Mosley to resign, which could lead to the FIA becoming fragmented.

Guido van Woerkom, president of the Royal Dutch touring club ANWB, expressed his dissatisfaction with the outcome, saying: "There is disappointment, especially that he didn't react to the people who were against him in this vote. Some sensitivity would have been a far better approach than the hardball he played."

When asked whether Mosley had lobbied the sporting organisations, van Woerkom added: "Absolutely. His basis is those. No doubt about it, it helped the outcome."

The debate around Mosley surfaced after lurid revelations into his private life were published in the News of the World at the end of March.

The Sunday tabloid suggested Mosley was involved in an orgy with prostitutes - and there were Nazi connotations.

Mosley has long refuted any Nazi influence, and at the hearing had respected barrister Anthony Scrivener QC, speak on his behalf.

In his findings, Scrivener confirmed there was no Nazi element to the images captured on video by the News of the World.

For van Woerkom, that was not the argument as he said: "The main issue for me is not whether there was a Nazi element, but whether he is credible to represent us in the world of mobility and sport.

"I don't think if you indulge in that behaviour you are a credible man."