FEI HOLDING STATEMENT
Wednesday 19 August 2009
RELEGATION OF TEAMS FROM THE MEYDAN FEI NATIONS CUP™
The issue of team relegation from the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ is currently being discussed.
Following the final leg of the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ at the Royal Dublin Horse Show on 7 August, two teams – Great Britain and Belgium – tied for second-to-last place and were consequently faced with relegation from the series as the Rules provide for relegation for the 9th and 10th placed teams. The interpretation of the Rules could lead to two different relegation outcomes. Hence the case was presented by the FEI Headquarters to the Bureau for discussion. Presented with the possibility of handing the matter over to the FEI Tribunal, the Bureau unanimously felt that a decision must be taken in the best interest of the sport. Bureau members took into consideration the fact that the Equestrian Community is a family, and that the governing body has a responsibility to translate its own rules in a sporting fashion and to understand clearly the pressures that are faced by the National Federations and athletes as a result of the current economic hardships. Failure to field a team in the Nations Cup series will definitely put severe pressure on National Federations to seek sponsorship from governments, National Olympic Committees, and commercial partners. Hence it was unanimously agreed that, subject to seeking permission from the Show Organizers, who would obviously bear the pressure of additional horses, neither team should be relegated for next season.
The FEI Jumping Committee is also looking into the matter presented by the Italian Equestrian Federation, winners at Dublin, under new Chef D' Equipe Markus Fuchs. The Italian team feel strongly that even though they placed 10th (last) in the Meydan FEI Nations CupTM, they should be included in next year’s series and have appealed that if a concession is made for two teams, they should be included as a third. The FEI Jumping Committee, and the FEI Commercial Department are now in discussions with our commercial partner Meydan in order to consider their wishes for the upcoming season, and will of course continue discussions with the Nations Cup Organizers before making a final statement in regard to this matter. The FEI Bureau and Headquarters wish to thank their stakeholders for their patience in waiting for a final conclusion which will be issued by next week.