Mosley sues over newspaper claims

Embattled FIA president Max Mosley has come out fighting by starting a legal battle with the Sunday tabloid that published a lurid story about his private life.

Shocking revelations emerged in the News of the World that have this week placed Mosley's position as one of most powerful men in motorsport under severe threat.

Although Mosley subsequently apologised to all facets of the FIA for any embarrassment caused, he cited "a covert investigation" to discredit him had been undertaken.

The newspaper printed allegations there was a Nazi connotation to the sex scandal, a claim the 67-year-old Mosley insisted was "entirely false."

Now he is determined to pursue the matter through the courts, with a statement confirming: "Lawyers representing Mr Mosley have served proceedings against the News of the World claiming unlimited damages."

Mosley, though, appears to be facing a greater battle to save his job than he perhaps first anticipated.

Earlier this week, Mosley stated he had received a large number of messages of sympathy and support from within the FIA and the motor sport and motoring communities.

But over the past few days, a groundswell of negativity has slowly started to rise against him, with calls growing by the day for him to resign.

It is almost certain that regardless of the furore enveloping him, Mosley will resolutely stand firm until his fate is decided at an extraordinary general assembly of the FIA later this month.

The assembly comprises 222 national motoring organisations in 130 countries, and it is in their hands Mosley's fate rests.