After our original
report had appeared we received the following letter which, the English
Chess Federation tells us, "has been sent via post, fax and e-mail"
on May 8th to the FIDE office. When we consulted Nigel Short, who is currently
playing a very strong Open
in Baku, Azerbaijan, it became clear that the protest had not been initiatiated
by him, but that the action had been taken quite independently by the ECF.
ENGLISH
CHESS FEDERATION
Formal complaint of the English Chess Federation to the Ethics
Commission of FIDE
Dear Colleagues,
The English Chess Federation reacts with dismay and anger at the news
that Grandmaster Nigel Short, a respected member of the federation, has
been asked to appear before the FIDE Ethics Commission to answer for comments
made concerning events surrounding the Kramnik vs. Topalov World Championship
match and the San Luis World Championship tournament.
We understand the Commission may be acting following a complaint from
Grandmaster Zurab Azmaiparashvili.
While the federation has formed no firm views on GM Short’s precise
comments and the allegations contained therein, it believes that they
were a legitimate response to a series of mistakes and missed opportunities
made during the above events which have impacted disastrously on the worldwide
image of chess, and made the important work of this federation much more
difficult.
We ask the Commission:
1) To cease this attempt to stop GM Short commenting on issues which
are of legitimate importance to all chess players. This is an abuse
of the Ethics Commission against a former title contender who has always
spoken passionately and honestly about chess.
In the event that this complaint should progress we ask the Commission:
2) To investigate with full vigour the background to GM Short’s
remarks and the events at those tournaments which led him to make them,
and if justified by the evidence, to charge Vice President GM Zurab
Azmaiparashvili and Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos under 2.2.10
and 2.2.11 of the FIDE Code of Ethics for damaging the reputation of
FIDE and its events.
Even in the event, that the complaint against GM Short is withdrawn,
we reserve the right to ask the Commission to investigate the conduct
of Messrs Azmayparashvili and Makropoulos.
Yours Faithfully,
Martin Regan (Chief Executive ECF)
Peter Sowray (ECF International Director) |
