Fuss of the Tournee — ÖSV’s Manuel Fettner responds angrily to fraud claims

Manuel Fettner has pushed back against harsh fraud allegations that surfaced during the Four Hills Tournament, criticising the media coverage and the Norwegian reporting that questioned his binding.

The 40‑year‑old Tyrolean — who has announced he will end his career after this season — called the press speculation “a bit sad” and said that journalists published unverified claims without checking the facts. “It doesn’t burden me because I know everything is fine with me,” Fettner said.

Shortly before the New Year’s competition in Garmisch‑Partenkirchen the FIS dismissed the Norwegian accusations as false. Norwegian outlets had questioned the legality of Fettner’s ski binding after a photo taken in Oberstdorf circulated; the federation clarified in a statement that the binding had been in use for about ten years and was approved.

ÖSV head coach Andreas Widhölzl called the affair a “big tohubohu” and FIS spokespeople on New Year’s Eve described the whole matter as “much ado about nothing” and “an old cake,” saying a photo had been passed to international media and sparked the rumours. The Norwegian paper Dagbladet had used suggestive terms such as “self‑made,” “suspicious” and possibly “illegal” when describing the binding.

Fettner and his team emphasised that the equipment was legal and approved and expressed disappointment at the quick jump to sensational headlines by some media. The story came amid other Tournee controversies including disqualifications and equipment checks that have kept the competition in the spotlight.