The inaugural Congress of the FIA International Court of Appeal (ICA) will be held in Monaco on Friday, December 9. The Congress, consisting of all the Titular Members of the ICA, will meet at least once a year. The creation of the Congress is one of the innovations included in the new ‘Rules of the FIA International Court of Appeal’ agreed by the FIA General Assembly held in Rome on 28th October.  The Rules include provisions concerning the missions, composition, administration and procedures of the ICA. Each year the Congress will review the functioning of the Court, and consider any proposed amendments to the Rules.

The adoption of the new Rules completes a major review and renewal of the proceedings of the ICA. In recent years the ICA hearings (for sporting cases) have been made open to the media, any barriers to challenging decisions of the ICA in the civil courts (where this is possible under national law) have been removed, the number of judges elected to the Court has been increased from 15 to 18, and the position of Secretary General has been made subject to election and, therefore, no longer part of the internal management of the FIA. With the new Rules now in place, the ICA procedures remain fully independent, transparent, fair, efficient, and an example of best practice in contemporary sports governance.

Note: The new Rules of the FIA International Court of Appeal are available on the FIA website.