England have reached the World Cup semi-finals after a dramatic 2-1 win over Norway in extra time — but controversy will linger after the Three Lions’ opening goal stood despite the ball appearing to hit a camera cable in the lead-up.
Norway took a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute through a Andreas Schjelderup stunner, to the protests of England after Harry Kane went down in the middle of the field.
But Norway had their own questions shut down after Jude Bellingham’s equaliser in fist-half stoppage time, with a Norway goal kick appearing to make contact with the aerial camera cable before landing at the feet of England’s Elliot Anderson.
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The ball was eventually played to Bellingham, who beat Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland with a low shot to the far post.
By rule, if the ball had been noticed hitting the cable, play would have stopped and a drop ball would have been utilised to determine possession.
Nyland protested at the time while Norway coach Stale Solbakken and former star turned staffer Brede Hangeland also furiously confronted the referee at half-time.
But FIFA issued a statement before the game was even over claiming sensor technology inside the ball showed there had been no touch.
“Before England’s goal in minute 45+2 against Norway, the sensor in the Connected Ball showed no peak in the ‘heartbeat of the ball’ when in the air, and therefore no evidence that the ball touched the overhead wire and changed the movement of the ball,” FIFA said.
The statement was accompanied by footage with a Snicko-like data feed showing there was no spike while the ball was in the air.
“I think it’s a little bit clear, if I’m being honest,” former Socceroos goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne said on SBS.
“You saw the reaction from Nyland straight after the goal, he went up to the ref and protested as any good goalkeeper should.
“It’s a little bit bizarre that something like this can happen. It should’ve been a drop ball. England win but there is some controversy around them.”
Ex-Socceroos star Tommy Oar said a sideline camera angle — not the view shared by FIFA — clearly showed the trajectory of the ball “completely changes” before dropping out of the air.
“I completely understand Norway’s frustrations at this,” he said.
“I think it was an error. I personally think (FIFA) should’ve acknowledged the error rather than doubling down on the technology stance.”
Norway thought they had put the drama behind them to take a 2-1 lead in the 56th minute when Torbjorn Heggem put a rebound past England keeper Jordan Pickford after a corner.
But the goal was disallowed after video review found Haaland pushed an opponent before the corner was taken.
Neither side found a winning goal inside regulation but England did not need to wait long to celebrate in extra time.
A shot from distance was saved by Nyland right into the path of a pouncing Bellingham, who slammed it home for his sixth goal of the tournament and, more importantly, the match-winning lead.
England were awarded a penalty later in the first half of extra time when Djed Spence collided with Oscar Bobb but it was chalked off on review, with officials ruling Spence initiated the contact.
Norway’s hopes took a hit when a tired Erling Haaland was taken off at half-time of extra time.
England will next face Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals in their bid to reach a World Cup final for the first time since their 1966 triumph on home soil.
Despite the disappointment of defeat Norway’s first World Cup appearance since 1988 will be one to remember — and it sets the stage for a deep run at Euro 2028, if they can qualify for just the second time in their history.
— with AP
