The FEI has suspended international judge Rogier Van Iersal and course designer Rob Jansen, who served as officials during the first two stages of the unsanctioned Global Champions League in Miami and Mexico City, held April 10th and 17th, respectively.

The FEI has held firm on its stance against the Global Champions League, which is operated under the Longines Global Champions Tour, 15 international events that are sanctioned by the FEI.

On December8, 2015, the FEI issued a letter to all officials warning that under Article 156.8 of the FEI General Regulations, FEI officials may not officiate at unsanctioned events, and doing so will result in a six month suspension from officiating over FEI-sanctioned events. Van Iersal and Jansen had requested a waiver based on ‘special circumstances’ according to FEI rules to officiate at the GCL events, which was at first denied; the decision was appealed and is still ongoing.

An FEI spokesperson told Horse-Canada “The FEI has applied its rules relating to unsanctioned events and can confirm that the two officials are ineligible. The two FEI Officials will not be authorized to officiate in any capacity at FEI and National events for a period of six months.”