England defeated Norway 2-1 in the World Cup quarter-finals after extra time thanks to two goals from Jude Bellingham.
Alfie Haaland was never happy (Image: ITV)
Alfie Haaland, the former Leeds United and Man City full-back and father of Erling Haaland, has slammed the referee during England’s World Cup quarter-final win over Norway.
The Three Lions needed extra time to clinch a spot in the semi-finals after falling behind in the first half. Jude Bellingham’s double, the first goal just before half-time and the second in extra time, gave England a 2-1 victory.
The match was advertised as Haaland vs. Harry Kane, and Thomas Tuchel’s side managed to keep the Man City striker relatively quiet, but he was surprisingly substituted in the extra 30 minutes. As usual, Alfie cheered on his son in the stands and did not hide his emotions before and after the match.
Join us on Facebook! For the latest news, analysis and more on our Mirror Football Facebook page
The match was full of talking points and Kane felt like he was fouled in the build-up to Norway’s opener. Norway’s staff then claimed that the ball hit the cable before Bellingham’s equalizing goal.
In the second half, Norway had a goal ruled out after a VAR check, which revealed that Haaland had pushed Elliott Anderson during a scuffle in the corner. There was also VAR intervention in extra-time, with England having a penalty canceled due to a challenge on Jed Spence.
Seconds after the referee announced his decision not to award a penalty, the camera turned to Haaland SNR, who appeared to turn towards the England fans and make a diving gesture. He then holds up two fingers in the same direction and appears to say “fuck you.”
The former Norwegian player continues to express his dissatisfaction. After the game, he wrote on social media: “Well done Bellingham and the referee.”
Norway’s Erling Haaland failed to find the back of the net in the World Cup quarter-final against England. (Image: Liu Lu/VCG, Getty Images)
Early Sunday morning, he added: “Thanks to the referee, I was saved. I want him to win the WC right now. But I feel like I got robbed today.”
Some fans responded to his claims by saying, “I really want to know how he was ‘robbed’.” “Due to a blatant foul their goal was disallowed. There was also a very debatable foul during the build-up to the goal and the referee overturned England’s penalty??”
“So obviously there was an opponent whose penalty was overturned. I can’t say the referee was in our favor at all.”
“No, Alfie, you should be proud of your country,” said a third. “The players gave their all and fought until the end. Sometimes you have to admit that the other team was better that day and accept that gracefully.”
Alfie Haaland was not the only Norwegian official to be dissatisfied with the referee. Winger Andreas Schjelderup also spoke about the decision.
“Unfortunately, the margins and odds were against us,” he said. “Some of the referee’s decisions were a little bitter. If we had lost completely, it would have been a little different.”
Captain Martin Odegaard added that Norway “didn’t get much help from the referees. The margins were against us and we had some bad luck.”
England will face Argentina in the semi-final on Wednesday night (8pm). Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 in extra time early Sunday morning.
Sign up now for the Make Football Great Again newsletter and get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox!
