Norway were left furious after Jude Bellingham's equaliser for England in their World Cup quarter-final was allowed to stand, despite the ball hitting an overhead camera cable in the build-up to the goal.
Controversial goal in Miami
Andreas Schjelderup put Norway ahead in the 36th minute with what appeared to be a mis-hit cross. However, England levelled shortly before half-time through Bellingham. The controversy arose because the move began when Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland's goal kick struck one of the cables connected to the overhead spider cam at the Miami Stadium. The ball immediately changed path and dropped to Elliot Anderson, and two passes later, Bellingham finished past Nyland to equalise.
IFAB rules and referee decision
The International FA Board (IFAB), which oversees the laws of football, states that the referee should have ruled out the goal and awarded a drop ball at the point where the ball hit the cable. Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg said on Fox Sports: 'Some will ask why did the VAR not interfere. Yes, they can intervene if the contact of the ball with the camera cable is part of the reviewable incident. An attacking phase of play leading to a goal is part of the VAR reviewable incident so it should have been picked up by the VAR.'
Norwegian reaction
Norway head coach Stale Solbakken was seen remonstrating with French referee Clement Turpin after the half-time whistle. Speaking at half time, Norway's assistant coach Kent Bergersen told TV2: 'Before the goal, Orjan hits the wire for the camera over the field, so the ball is shorter than it should have been. The referees should have looked into that.'
Norwegian pundits were also unhappy. TV2 pundit Kristoffer Lokberg said: 'If that ball hit the drone camera or a wire, this is a scandal, then it should have been a draw and not 1-1. I have no words. I have not witnessed anything like this before. If this becomes decisive, it will remain as one of the biggest World Cup scandals of all time.' Fellow analyst Erik Torp added: 'If it turns out that the ball hit the cable, we are in for the refereeing scandal of the ages, seen through Norwegian eyes.'
