Norway fume over cable deflection and disallowed goal as England edge World Cup quarter-final
A ball glancing off a spidercam cable, a VAR chalked-off goal and furious accusations from Erling Haaland's father dominated Norway's 2-1 extra-time loss to England in the World Cup last eight in Miami.
A deflection no one could ignore
Norway took the lead through Schjelderup in the first half but their World Cup quarter-final unravelled with England's equaliser deep in first-half stoppage time. Goalkeeper Orjan Nyland cleared downfield, yet the ball's trajectory altered abruptly in mid-air, dropping straight into the path of English midfielder Elliot Anderson. Moments later Jude Bellingham fired past Nyland at 45+2. Norwegian players and staff on the bench instantly pointed to the overhead camera cable.
If the ball touched the camera or a cable, it's a scandal. I'm speechless. I've never seen anything like it. If confirmed, it will remain one of the greatest scandals in World Cup history.
FIFA insisted no evidence of contact emerged from the sensor inside the ball, yet a 3D animation aired by the BBC, built on official data, appeared to show the path bending exactly where the cable sits. Norway coach Stale Solbakken told reporters the referee admitted he had not seen the incident and received no VAR alert, but added, "The ball fell straight down from the sky. Everyone on my bench reacted immediately. There's no doubt it hit something."
Goal ruled out and VAR under fire
Norway thought they had restored their lead in the 55th minute. A corner was flicked on by Haaland, Jordan Pickford saved Berg's shot and Torbjørn Heggem tapped in the rebound. French referee Clément Turpin disallowed it after reviewing the pitchside monitor, judging that Haaland pushed defender Elliot Anderson in the preceding duel.
If that's a foul, then I commit one in almost every duel in every match I play. I'm constantly pushed, pulled, and I think it's rubbish.
Team-mate Sander Berge went further, saying, "That's a goal every day of the week. The way I defend in the Premier League, there'd be a penalty all the time with this referee." Norwegian TV pundit Simen Stamsø Møller called Anderson's reaction theatrical: "He throws himself wholeheartedly. It's so theatrical!"
Family fury
Alf-Inge Haaland, the father of Norway's captain and a former Leeds and Manchester City player, vented on social media. Replying to English journalist Henry Winter, he wrote sarcastically, "Really? The referee saved you. I hope you win the World Cup now. But I have the feeling we were robbed today." In another post he aimed at both Bellingham and Turpin: "Well done to Bellingham and the referee."
- Schjelderup scores to give Norway the lead.
- Bellingham equalises after a possible cable deflection on Nyland's clearance.
- Heggem's goal disallowed following VAR review for Haaland's push on Anderson.
- Bellingham scores the winning goal, sending England to the semi-finals.
Pride after the pain
Despite the bitter exit, Erling Haaland drew perspective from Norway's first World Cup appearance since 1994 and their run to the last eight, which included knocking out Brazil. "These are maybe the six best weeks of my life," he said. "It's completely surreal. We put Norway on the map."
Bellingham's second goal in extra time sent England into a semi-final against Argentina, while Norway flew home with a sense of injustice and a new-found status among football's elite.
