Suit chaos at the World Cup: “Absolute tragedy”: Norwegian fraud shakes ski jumping

Ski jumping legend Sven Hannawald spoke of “an absolute tragedy”, for sports director Horst Hüttel the behavior of the Norwegians is “scandalous”: Nordic skiing is again in the middle of a huge scandal at the end of the World Cup in Trondheim and may have to uncover a systematic fraud system in the ski jumping in the coming months.

Large excitement are several anonymous and blurred videos from the Norwegians’ suit tailor. The accusation: The top nation from Scandinavia has knowingly and in the presence of chief coach Magnus brevig suits and thus gives itself an inadmissible advantage. Sports director Jan Erik Aalbu confessed in the afternoon with a view of the illegally changed suits of Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang knowingly misconduct.

“We cheated and disappointed all ski jumping fans, too. The 61-year-old first read a statement in Norwegian and later in English and also asked himself the numerous questions from around 40 journalists. Aalbu seemed irritated.

Sports director: only two suits affected

However, the extent of the fraud is still unclear. Because: Aalbu said that he himself knew nothing about the practices. The official could also not name concrete consequences. He confirms that the World Cup scandal will have follows internally. But it was still too early to say which one.

According to Aalbu, only the suits of Lindvik and Forfang converted by the World Association FIS were manipulated – and only for this one jumping. These statements did not really look really credible.

The rivals suspected the fraud on Saturday. “I am shocked a bit. It is obvious that systemically cheated here,” said Hüttel of the ARD. But what does manipulation of a suit actually bring? The Norwegians have attached an unpaid seam to ensure more stability.

Poland’s trainer: “How doping”

The additional stability helps the jumpers to fly in the air. “Apparently they sewed from the knee away to the step on the inside a stiff band – this is not allowed and that rather causes it to become stiffer,” said Austria’s head coach Andreas Widhölzl. Norway’s campaign is “clever, but not in the regulations”.

The otherwise closed ski jumping family dismantled itself on a memorable World Cup Saturday. Or: All nations attacked the Norwegians, which is difficult to suspect. “It is a fool for me. It is a clear manipulation and clear sports fraud, similar to doping,” said Poland head coach Thomas Thurnbichler. He is no longer talking to his coaching colleague Brevig, added Thurnbichler.

Fis gives off bad picture

Poland, Slovenia and Austria not only demanded an exclusion from the last individual, but also a cancellation of all Norwegian results in the title fights of Trondheim. The Famose World Cup title of the Slovenian Domen Prevc was completely lost in the middle of the massive turbulence.

In addition to the Norwegian jumping team, the FIS also gave a bad picture around racing director Sandro Pertile and material inspector Christian Kathol on the largest stage in the sport. Before the competition, Catholic said that all suits had been checked and found to be compliant. Then followed the disqualifications for Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal, Forfang and Lindvik, which would have won silver.

Question about trust and responsibility

People convicted of the control showed Norway’s team Reue. “We have committed a violation of the standard,” admitted coaches Brevig. The sports director Aalbu, which was difficult to defens, took responsibility for the three disqualifications, a systematic pattern first rejected: “It was not a manipulation of the suit. This is not a fraud, this is not a doping.” On Sunday he had to correct himself in front of the gathered press.

On the videos that is rather inconspicuous for laypersons, you can see how the Norwegians work their jump uniform behind the glued slices. But at the scandal of Trondheim, the scandal of Trondheim was only on the seams, suits and minimal advantages. Instead, the big question arose of trust – and for the responsibility of the FIS.

Hannawald suggests revolution

“I saw a few things where a nation does wild things that are completely though. You can’t turn it under the carpet. The responsible people have to react,” said national coach Stefan Horngacher in a first reaction. TV expert Hannawald proposed to replace the controller Kathol in the future when monitoring the suits with a machine.

Lost trust, poor controls and mutual attacks: When the FIS managers leave Trondheim after this weekend, they are facing a huge pile of shards. The fact that a video is recorded and published anonymously raises further questions. The author is even unknown to the World Association.

“We have to clarify the situation in peace. This is an issue for the entire ski jumping family, not just for a team,” said Pertile, who was literally overwhelmed by the dynamic situation. Lock, suspends, punishments? The 56 -year -old Italian could not answer any question that was really substantial. After all, he suspected that the previous World Cup results should have existed.

Wellinger: “Topic gets on the nerves”

This also gives the chances that Andreas Wellinger will be declared world champion afterwards. The 29 -year -old Bayer had taken second place behind Lindvik on the normal hill. The suit topic was kept away from the jumpers for a long time, but Wellinger did not press a clear announcement.

“In the end it is actually too stupid for me. The topic is only on my nerves. Suits, bonds: Can we please concentrate on ski jumping?” The best should win – “and not the one who believes best.”

On Sunday, Wellinger seemed to mourn the lost gold when he sent a thoughtful message from the airport. “What would have been in the other competitions where I was very close and we were very close as a team?” He asked on Instagram. He has many questions.

Sports director Hüttel was “sad and angry”, he was amazed at the exemplary shamelessness in ski jumping. Norway’s officials initially defended themselves so that the videos had shown suits for the coming weekend.

“When the technicians of the other nations heard that, it torn them. It is as if someone takes illegal medication here and says he takes it for next week. I can’t follow it at all,” said Hüttel.