Kristine Stavås Skistad criticises FIS after receiving her third yellow card of the season: "They're out to get me"

Originally published in Eurosport on January 02, 2026

Kristine Stavås Skistad lashes out at FIS after receiving the third yellow card of the season

By Espen Blaker — Updated 02/01/2026 13:23 CET

Norwegian sprint star Kristine Stavås Skistad reacted strongly after being shown another yellow card during Thursday's Tour de Ski stage. She finished a distant last on the 20-kilometre stage, nearly 15 minutes behind winner Jessica Diggins.

After the race it emerged that Skistad had been given a yellow card during the event for taking two pole plants in a zone where it was not allowed. Skistad told VG: “That was very ... They are out to get me.”

FIS race director Michal Lamplot was confronted with Skistad’s comment and responded: “No, we are not out to get her.”

This is not the first time the 26-year-old has been in the referees’ spotlight this season — she has already received one red card and two yellow cards previously. The third yellow of the season puts her in a precarious position ahead of Saturday’s Tour de Ski sprint: another yellow there would lead to disqualification.

Skistad had earlier won the first Tour sprint convincingly this winter, but her form on this particular distance stage drew criticism from fellow competitors such as Sweden’s Moa Lundgren, who told Expressen she could never have done something like that and lived with it.

Context

The incident continues a controversial run for Skistad this season, with her disciplinary record now drawing media attention and debate about enforcement and consistency of rules. FIS officials maintain the decisions are rule-based rather than personal.