FIA Hit Back at EU Over Tobacco Sponsors

Formula One's governing body rebuked the European Union's public health chief today for criticising the decision to scrap next year's Belgian Grand Prix in a row over tobacco advertising.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA), in a statement, questioned both the credibility and "respect for legal detail" of Health and Consumer Protection commissioner David Byrne.

Byrne had issued his own statement on Tuesday criticising the sport's officials for racing with "tainted money".

"Is the tainted money of big tobacco more important to the Formula One machine than the spirit of the sport and the dedication of its fans to one of the most exciting racetracks, which Spa-Francorchamps undoubtedly is?" he asked.

The FIA noted Byrne's comments and said the decision not to go to Spa, taken by teams and announced on Monday, was due to the need to comply with both existing sponsorship contracts and a new Belgian law banning tobacco advertising.

"Had Mr Byrne and the European Commission shown similar respect for legal detail, their original EU directive on tobacco advertising would not have been annulled by the European Court of Justice," the FIA statement said.

"Mr Byrne, as Health Commissioner, and the Commission itself would have more credibility in this matter if they were to take steps to end the subsidy of nearly one billion euros currently paid by Brussels to encourage tobacco growing in the EU."

The FIA said responsible health agencies worldwide were co-operating with the sporting body to introduce a global ban on tobacco sponsorship in motor sport from October 1, 2006.

"Countries which choose a different date on an individual basis merely render this objective more difficult to attain," the statement said.

The FIA calculates that the tobacco industry provides Formula One and world rally teams with sponsorship worth more than $350 million a year. Two countries on the current Formula One calendar prevent tobacco advertising at their Grands Prix - Britain through a voluntary agreement and France with a legal ban.

The FIA maintains that, since Formula One is televised globally, such local bans are ineffective since audiences in France and Britain can still watch races elsewhere which are not subject to any ban on sponsorship.