I've Done Nothing Wrong, Says Mosley

Embattled FIA president Max Mosley today defiantly maintained he has "done nothing wrong" following allegations of his involvement in a Nazi-sex orgy.

Mosley yesterday began a legal battle with the paper that first printed the allegations, the News of the World, yet he has come under severe pressure to resign from major manufacturers and motoring organizations. But in a letter addressed to Peter Meyer, the president of Germany's motoring federation ADAC, and sent to the FIA and World Council members, Mosley maintained that his actions were "harmless and completely legal".

"Had I been caught driving excessively fast on a public road or over the alcohol limit (even in, say, Sweden where it is very low) I should have resigned the same day. As it is, a scandal paper obtained by illegal means pictures of something I did in private which, although unacceptable to some people, was harmless and completely legal," the letter said.

"Many people do things in their bedrooms or have personal habits which others find repugnant. But as long as they keep them private, nobody objects. The offense seems to be not what I did but the fact that it became public. But I played no role in this, indeed I did my utmost to ensure it remained private. I was the victim of a disgusting conspiracy.

"It goes without saying that the so-called Nazi element is pure fabrication. This will become crystal clear when the matter comes to trial. The newspaper invented this in order to spice up their story and introduce my family background. In short, I think I have done nothing wrong and that the wrong was done by the newspaper. That is why I am suing them.

Mosley added: "I don't think any of this should affect my work on motoring safety, the environment or the sport. I believe that 21st century adults do not worry about private sexual matters as long as they are legal and harmless. I shall put this view to the Assembly in due course."

A meeting of the extraordinary general assembly is due to take place before the end of this month, most likely in Paris. The assembly comprises 222 national motoring organizations in 130 countries, and it is in their hands that Mosley's fate rests.

The ADAC, along with Dutch federation Knaf, Israeli body Memsi and the American Automobile Association, has condemned Mosley. However, Mosley said he has the support of 20 FIA clubs and the representatives of some additional 50 clubs.