England’s place in the World Cup semi-finals has sparked fresh controversy following new footage, with some suggesting Jude Bellingham’s decisive equalizer against Norway should not have been allowed. Thomas Tuchel’s side fought back from a goal difference to beat Norway 2-1 after extra time in the quarter-finals, with Bellingham scoring twice to set up a juicy showdown with Argentina in the semi-finals.
However, the focus shifted to the build-up to England’s first goal after replays showed the ball contacting overhead camera wires from Norway’s goal kick. When goalkeeper Orjan Nyland fired the ball onto the field just before half-time, television footage claimed that the ball grazed the suspended camera equipment before falling to Elliott Anderson, who quickly spotted Anthony Gordon. Gordon then replaced Bellingham with his dismissal to bring England back on even terms.
According to FIFA’s Laws of the Game, if the ball touches a match official or an external agent, including overhead equipment such as a camera suspended above the playing surface, play must be restarted with the dropped ball.
Norway’s players immediately voiced their opposition, arguing that England’s equalizer should have been canceled out with chalk.
Norway coach Starre Solbakken was seen confronting referee Clement Turpin as his team left the pitch at half-time, while both Nyland and Erling Haaland were also caught on camera gesturing towards the air and asserting that the ball had hit the camera system.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, who appeared as a pundit on Fox, said the incident should have been reviewed by a video assistant referee.
He said: “If the ball made contact with the camera cable, VAR could intervene. The attacking phase of the play leading to the goal is subject to VAR consideration. This should have been picked up by VAR.”
FIFA subsequently addressed the controversy by releasing footage from the connected match ball’s sensors, claiming there was no evidence the ball had come into contact with the overhead wires.
In a statement shared on social media along with the data, FIFA said: “At 45+2 minutes before England’s goal against Norway, the connected ball’s sensor did not show a peak in the ‘beat of the ball’ when it was in the air. There was therefore no evidence that the ball touched the overhead wires and changed its movement.”
The governing body further argued that the technology did not register any spikes in the ball’s movement, which could have indicated contact with the cable.
However, the incident continued to divide opinion among fans, with many questioning why potential contact was not tested more closely before the goal was conceded.
In the end, England made a comeback in extra time with Bellingham scoring his second goal of the day, winning 2-1 and sending Tuchel’s side into the World Cup semi-finals.
