Former Norway international Erik Mykland has launched a furious attack on the technology used at the World Cup, branding England's quarter-final victory a 'complete scandal' after Jude Bellingham's extra-time winner was allowed to stand despite appearing to hit a spidercam wire.
Controversial goal sparks outrage
England progressed to the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Norway in Miami, but the decisive goal in first-half stoppage time has been mired in controversy. Replays suggested the ball struck one of the stadium wires suspending the spidercam system before reaching Bellingham, who slotted home from close range.
FIFA later issued a statement claiming their Connected Ball technology detected no change in the ball's 'heartbeat' when it was in the air, indicating no contact with the wire. However, Mykland, who played for Norway at the 1998 World Cup, was unconvinced. 'It's a complete scandal,' the former Panathinaikos midfielder told Norwegian outlet Dagbladet. 'It's ironic that the technology that's supposed to help us is destroying us.'
Norway's frustrations mount
Norway had taken the lead in the 36th minute when Andreas Schjelderup's miscued cross was misjudged by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The lead lasted less than 10 minutes before Bellingham's contentious equaliser.
Further controversy followed early in the second half when Torbjorn Lysaker Heggem's goal was ruled out after VAR determined that Erling Haaland had pushed Elliot Anderson before a corner kick. Norway players and fans were left incensed, feeling two key decisions had gone against them.
Tuchel admits England were lucky
England head coach Thomas Tuchel acknowledged his side were fortunate to progress. 'We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today,' he said. 'The result is fantastic. We are in the last four. It's amazing but not happy with the performance – in every sense. The commitment is there but we made life difficult for us in the way we played and how we played – sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough, not repetitive enough. We were lucky today.'
England will face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals, but Tuchel insisted improvements are needed. 'It's not the mentality. This is pure mentality. It's not about mentality. You can bottle it up and sell it. It's about the quality – we need to play better.'
IFAB rules on outside interference
According to IFAB's Law 8, if the ball makes contact with an outside agent such as a spidercam wire, play should be stopped and the ball dropped for the team that would have retained possession. In this case, the goal should have been disallowed if contact was confirmed, but FIFA's technology found no evidence of interference.
