A safety binding for ski boots comprising: a first holding element, mobile in relation to a ski about a vertical axis, for retaining one end of the boot; a second holding element, releasable under the action of an abnormally high vertical load, for retaining the other end of the boot; a connecting element for connecting the boot to the ski, comprising a resilient element restoring the boot to its axial position upon the ski. One end of this connecting element is secured to the ski by means of the mobile element. The binding has the special advantage of allowing the binding to release under the action of a lateral load, while keeping the boot permanently connected to the ski.