Skiing: Tomba in trouble after row

(First Edition)

RACE organisers yesterday made an official complaint against Alberto Tomba, citing his 'stupid, spiteful and unreasonable aggression' after an argument between the Italian Olympic ski champion and a cable-car operator.

This occurred after a World Cup slalom in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, in which Tomba finished second to Austria's Thomas Stangassinger. In a letter to the sport's governing body, Jean-Marie Fournier, director of the resort's lift installations, said: 'Judging his behaviour inadmissible on the part of a sportsman, the organising committee asks the International Ski Federation to take action against Tomba for his imbecilic act.' Had he known of the incident he might have barred Tomba from the race.

After various accounts of the incident had been given, Jean-Pierre Baehler, head of the race press office, said that Tomba had smashed a pane of glass in an installation half-way up the piste after an argument with a cable-car operator.