First of the FEI states it is clearly established in the MOU that pay cards are not allowed. "Athletes cannot be obligated to pay to be part of a team or to pay to compete in the GCT/GCL nor be obliged to acquire ownership of a GCL team."
However that was already stated, nevertheless the rules are still bend and riders do pay through sponsorships.
However the FEI was correct in stating it never disqualified just threatened to disqualify riders competing at the GCT/GCL circuit. It never escalated to this situation. As There was an agreement between the FEI and Jan Tops. The FEI restated that competition formats within the series have to be fully in line with the FEI Rules and Regulations compliance with FEI Rules.
original article
The past months and years the equestrian sports have evolved and discussions between different parties and the FEI have led to a revolt of change.
Jan Tops, who claimed an Olympic Gold medal in 1992, has become one of the leading entrepeneurs in the show jumping community. Tops is a major shareholder of the Private Bank, MErit Capital and as well the founder of the Global Champions Tour offering top show jumping sport in 15 tournaments with over 10,5 million euro in prize money. In 2015 Tops developed a team competitions together with Frank McCort - last year owner of the French soccer club, Olympique Marseille and Qatarese investors.
Based on the Formula one the Global Champions League is the first step towards an independent horsesport, without any relations to the FEI. With a contract with Eurosport big sponsors are attracted to have their team competing in the 15 tournaments for a total starting fee of 2 million Euro per team.
Many influential people are attracted by this F1-formula, making Tops the Ecclestone of the show jumping community. Fortunate people pay a place in the team being able to compete at a top level.
As such Jessica Springsteen, Georgina Bloomberg, Athina Onassis, Jennifer Gates and Marta Ortega are just examples of the influential people subscribing of the LGCT and GCL formula.
Conflict with the FEI
With this initiative Tops and the FEI have started a war against each other two years ago. As the FEI saw a direct rival in Tops' concept for the Nations Cup competitions, which do not offer such a commercial view of the sport. The FEI disqualified riders competing at the Global Champions League. After a legal dispute Tops got his right in 2015.
As the FEI and Tops sat around the table at the end of 2016 and found a solution they both agreed on, however the modalities of the agreement remained a top secret.
[caption id="attachment_28915" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
Sfeer VIP LGCT Estoril[/caption]This was a huge problem for othe show organisers who experience Jan Tops' competitions as a negative influence and rivalery on their events. The FEI doesn't allow competition participation through payment. Although in current conditions the sale of VIP tables is such a commission entrance fee. Nevertheless with the FEI finding an agreement with Jan Tops' Global Champions League - where people buy-in a team for 2 million Euro - other show organisers wondered why Tops is allowed to have this system implanted and they're not. Even if strictly the team is payed by a sponsor and not the riders (officially).
This unorthodoxe method of working caused a revolt lead by Stephan Conter. FEI president, Ingmar De Vos didn't stand a chance. The 53-year-old Belgian president worked for Tops in the past and was blamed to use two measures and two cups.
Conter and Johan Dejager, president of the Antwerp Showjumping, in the past a part of the Global Champions tour, are against the inside politics between the FEI and the LGCT. "We stopped being a part of the LGCT circuit, our identity was in jeopardy," states Dejager. "Tops is a splendid entrepeneur. But everybody has to be able to claime his part of the cake and it is the FEI's task to guard that right."
"Jumping is an expensive sport. The horses, the maintenance, the transport, the trucks. The entrance fee is actually a minority compared to the other costs. For organisers however it is necessary to be able to make a positive balance."
Fortunate amateurs
But what do the riders think? "Jumping has become expensive. If you can compete for the higher prizemoney you will do. Our sport is not like cycling, where you pay certain cyclists as a teamsponsor. You cannot only compete for your country in the Nations Cup series where there's almost no prize money."
Ludo Philippaerts is currently managing his twin sons Nicola and Olivier Philippaerts. "Jan Tops' initiative has evolved our sport to a higher level. This attracted more money into our sport and has awakened other organisers," states Philippaerts.
However Philippaerts admits the sport is becoming more and more an elite sport. "You have to qualify for the team. As only a few spots are available as the other spots are taken by fortunate amateurs. The concept is double. New sponsors bring in new money in our sport and that is necessary as well."
A new era ?
In the last open discussion in Lausanne, Conter asked for more freedom for all organisers. Hij proposed to set the strict rules of the FEI for only the competitions that are a part of the official tournaments such as the World Cup competitions and Nations Cup series. For all other competitions more freedom is needed.
"We're all entrepeneurs, please give us our freedom to grow and develop," states Conter. "We will ensure a sportive quality and will not be guided by only commercial aim. It is in our own interest."