Officials raise major concerns about the way they are treated

Calls have been made for the FEI to put in place clear sanctions and rules to protect officials

- ELEANOR JONES

FEI officials have raised major concerns about the way they are treated – as one has been “driven” to resign after 26 years.

Christian Landolt told H&H it was a very difficult decision to leave, and it saddened him, but his “values are so far from the FEI’s current values, I can no longer be a representative”.

Mr Landolt has officiated at championships and CCI5*s, and said he has seen numerous cases of abuse of officials.

“I’ve had one [chef d’équipe] coming at us really strongly over a flag issue. I said, ‘Your attitude was unacceptable’. He said, ‘I know, but last time I did it, we got penalties removed’.

“Colleagues have had riders call before the dressage to say, ‘You judged me badly last time’, people saying they’ll get lawyers involved.”