Formal complaint of the English Chess Federation to the Ethics
Commission of FIDE (8 May 2007)
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Even in the event, that the complaint against GM Short is withdrawn,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)
8th May 2007
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