Norway's media erupted in fury after England's 2-1 extra-time victory in the World Cup quarter-finals, with leading pundits and broadcasters claiming two controversial VAR decisions robbed them of a historic semi-final place. The match, played in sweltering Miami heat, saw Jude Bellingham score twice, including the 93rd-minute winner, but Norwegian commentators focused on a disallowed goal and a potential ball-cable incident.
Disallowed Goal Sparks Outrage
Norway led 1-0 through Andreas Schjelderup's 36th-minute strike before Bellingham equalised in first-half stoppage time. In the second half, Torbjørn Heggem thought he had restored Norway's lead, but VAR ruled the goal out after Erling Haaland was judged to have fouled Elliot Anderson in the penalty area. NRK football expert Kristoffer Løkberg said: "It is a scandal that Norway have been denied that 2-1 goal. It is unbelievably poor refereeing. Elliot Anderson threw himself backwards without any provocation. It's closer to simulation than a foul by Haaland."
Fellow NRK expert Lars Tjærnås was equally critical, writing on X: "What a total farce VAR is for football." On TV2, commentator Simen Stamsø-Møller questioned the decision, stating: "Yes, there is a push, but that happens everywhere inside the penalty area. It's because he throws himself. No, stop being ridiculous." He added: "There was a push and you see that at every single corner. It's only given because the outcome is a goal."
Ball-Cable Incident Adds to Controversy
Norway also claimed England's equaliser should not have stood after the ball allegedly struck an overhead camera cable moments before Bellingham scored. Norway manager Ståle Solbakken said: "It's not the main story here, and I'm not blaming that, but the whole bench reacted immediately when the ball dropped in front of them. I don't think there's any doubt it hit something, but unfortunately, we'll have to live with that for the rest of our lives." TV2 expert Jesper Mathisen believed the laws were clear: "The goal should have been disallowed because the referee should have stopped play and restarted with a dropped ball after Nyland's kick."
FIFA later stated that data from the chip inside the official match ball showed no evidence of contact with the cable. In a post on X, FIFA Media said: "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."
Norwegian Media Calls for Scrutiny
Newspaper Nettavisen devoted extensive coverage to both incidents. Løkberg told the paper: "If that ball hit the camera or the cable, this is a scandal. It should have been a dropped ball, not 1-1. I have no words. I've never witnessed anything like it before. If this proves decisive, it will go down as one of the biggest World Cup scandals of all time." NRK expert Carl-Erik Torp added: "If it turns out the ball hit the cable, then from a Norwegian point of view this would be one of the biggest refereeing scandals of all time."
Despite the anger, Løkberg praised Norway's performance: "It has been unbelievably intense. What drama, and what a heroic Norwegian team, who were the better side for large parts of the game. In the game of fine margins, unfortunately, the margins went against us. But there is a Norwegian team down there that can be proud in defeat."
