Serious Accusations! 'They Had to Put the Germans on the Podium'

Several disqualifications of top Slovenian ski jumpers within a matter of days have caused a stir in the World Cup circuit, and the situation now appears to be on the brink of escalation.

After Anze Lanisek and Lovro Kos were removed from the standings during the ski flying event the previous week, team member Timi Zajc was disqualified in the first round of the mixed team event in Willingen. The reason given was that the length of his step was allegedly too great. However, in the second round – which he had to repeat with the same suit due to a new regulation – everything was in order. This discrepancy infuriated Zajc, especially as Slovenia, who had initially been in the lead, slipped to fifth place behind Norway, Austria, Japan, and Germany.

In his immediate reaction after his second jump, Zajc angrily gestured and later told Slovenian radio station RTV: "Ski jumping has turned into a circus. We obviously started the competition too well, and they (the FIS) had to stop us, they had to put the Germans on the pedestal. Today, they won." His coach, Robert Hrgota, hinted at escalating the matter, but was soon intercepted by FIS race director Sandro Pertile, leading to a serious private discussion.

Later that evening, the Slovenian ski federation (SZS) issued a statement claiming that several disqualifications in the past two weeks were unjustified. They warned the FIS World Cup ski jumping director that the recent equipment control decisions had raised serious doubts about the adherence to clear and equal rules. The federation is now actively collecting evidence to potentially present the case to higher authorities, and further statements will follow as legal and formal steps are initiated.

With the conflict between the Slovenian ski federation and the FIS intensifying, the focus now shifts to the upcoming individual event in Willingen set for Saturday at 16:00 (live ticker available).