PARIS (AFP) - Calls for the resignation of Max Mosley, the president of world motorsport's governing body, the FIA, came from several major national federations on Thursday.
The 68-year-old's lawyer on Wednesday filed a lawsuit in Paris against the British tabloid News of the World over its claims about his part in an alleged Nazi-style sex orgy with five London prostitutes.
The major federations wrote to Mosley in a joint letter, saying: "We firmly believe that the only respectable way for FIA and yourself (to sort this matter out) is to ensure an orderly transition by resigning."
The motorsport federations concerned were from the USA (AAA and AATA), Austria (OEMTC), Belgium, (TCB), Brazil (CCB), Canada (CAA), Denmark (FDM), Finland (AL), France (FFA), Germany (ADAC), Hungary (MAK), India (FIAA), Israel (MEMSI), Japan (JAF), Spain (RACC and RACE), Sweden (M), Switzerland (TCS) and the Netherlands (KNAC).
"FIA is in a critical situation with its image, its reputation and its credibility severely eroded," the federations added. "The damage is getting worse for every extra day this situation continues. There is no possibility of going back to the way things were."
A FIA extraordinary general assembly will meet in Paris on Tuesday to decide the fate of its president, whose mandate technically runs till November 2009.
The national federations regretted Mosley did not agree with their compromise of him quitting in November should Tuesday's vote of confidence go against him.
"We deeply regret your refusal to accept the proposal (...) in which you would have resigned at November's general assembly. It was a constructive idea to smooth over the transition and find a solution to the present crisis," the letter added.
"Your intention to stay in your post till the end of its mandate in 2009, despite the damage done to FIA, could mean that you are placing personal considerations before the interests of FIA and its members."
According to internet side autosport.com, Mosley, who has repeatedly said he wants to stay in his position, has once more refused to resign even after his letter from the federations.
"It's the same as I have said in previous letters," Mosley replied. "The communication I have had with presidents of the federations have mainly been in my favour," Mosley replied. "Consequently, I have no other choice than to submit this matter to FIA members in their entirety.
"I cannot ignore the advice of the majority and simply resign."
Mosley, whose father Oswald led the British fascist party in the 1930s and was interned during World War II, has vehemently denied any 'Nazi' connotation.
