Munich prosecutors "filed charges" against F1 CEO BERNIE ECCLESTONE at the Munich district court on Wednesday. Investigators "accuse Ecclestone of two crimes: bribery of an official in a particularly serious case and incitement to embezzlement, also in a particularly serious case." The bribery charges "could lead to Ecclestone losing his job as F1 CEO." Influential figures in the racing scence "are working on the resignation of the 82-year-old Brit" (SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG, 5/15). Asked about the reported charges, a spokesperson for Ecclestone said, "Mr. Ecclestone has not received any charges for any indictment" (HJ Mai, SBD Global). In London, Kevin Eason reported Ecclestone has openly said that "he would be forced to resign if he is charged and the world now waits to see whether the man who has guided Formula One from a collection of unruly enthusiasts into a global phenomenon will go on." Ecclestone will be 83 in October and CVC, which bought F1 in '06, "is known to have drawn up a list of potential replacements" (LONDON TIMES, 5/15).
