Norway's assistant manager Kent Bergersen has joined the chorus of criticism over Jude Bellingham's opening goal for England in their World Cup clash at Miami Stadium, insisting VAR should have intervened. The goal, which cancelled out Andreas Schjelderup's opener, was allowed to stand despite furious protests from Norway players who believed the ball had struck an overhead cable.
Controversial Goal Sparks Outrage
The incident occurred in first-half stoppage time when Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland's goal kick appeared to hit a cable above the pitch. The ball dropped unexpectedly into the path of Elliot Anderson, who exchanged passes with Anthony Gordon before setting up Bellingham to score. Nyland rushed to referee Clement Turpin to protest, but no VAR check is believed to have taken place.
FIFA's Statement on Ball Sensor
FIFA later released a statement addressing the controversy: “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.”
However, Bergersen dismissed this explanation, telling TV 2: “When Orjan kicks the ball, it hits the wire with the camera, so the ball is much shorter than it should have been. The referee should have looked at that.”
Former Players and Manager React
Former Norway midfielder Kjetil Rekdal expressed disbelief: “It's absolutely crazy that something like that can happen. The referees can't have noticed it. Then Norway would have had to storm the field for them to notice it.”
Norway boss Stale Solbakken claimed the overhead wires deserved an assist for the goal. “Yeah, it probably will. That was unlucky for us. The ball fell straight down from the sky, so it changed its direction. It became a misunderstanding among our players and it was in a bad moment for us, but we can’t do anything about that. I don’t think we will play the game again, so that’s how it is,” he said.
Solbakken added: “I can’t say anything about that because FIFA. If there’s no been no sound or there has been no reading in the chip, what can I say against that? But the ball drops down straight from heaven says everyone, including Orjan, who is the goalie, including the guy who is going to receive the ball.”
Player Testimony
Norway forward Alexander Sorloth backed the claims: “You see the power Orjan puts into the ball, and I position myself further up, because I see it going far. So I have to go further up, and then suddenly it just drops and dies out. So it must be a drop.”
