Ecclestone to stand trialposted in F116 | 01 | 2014

FORMULA 1 SUPREMO BERNIE ECCLESTONE is to stand trial in Germany over allegations of bribery in relation to the sale of the sport in 2006. Court officials made the announcement this morning.

The 83-year-old billionaire was indicted last July in connection to an alleged 45 million Euro bribe that he paid to German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky eight years ago.

Since last summer, the judges in Munich have been deliberating over whether there was enough evidence to take the matter to trial. Clearly, today's announcement confirms they believe they do.

The criminal proceedings are likely to seriously damage the reputation of Ecclestone, who has been in control of F1 for almost four decades.

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Last year he also faced a $140 million damages case in the High Court last year — brought against him by by a German media firm, Constantin Medien — over the sale of F1. A judgement on the High Court case is expected later this month.

In relation to the latest case, Gribkowsky has already been jailed for accepting the payment after confessing to taking a bribe while he was a representative of German bank Bayern LB.

All along though, Ecclestone has defended himself, and his innocence, by stating the payment wasn't a bribe. He has always argued he was forced to pay the money because he had been threatened with having his family trust fund investigated by tax officials.

The trial, which is expected to start in Munich on April 23, has forced Ecclestone to step down from the board of the sports' owners, CVC, until the trial is concluded. CVC currently owns a 35.5% stake in F1, after it sold down its holding from 63% last year.

Ecclestone will though remain in day-to-day charge of F1.

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Jim McGill