England's World Cup win over Norway sparks controversy over Bellingham goal and sky cam cable
England's 2-1 victory over Norway in the FIFA World Cup quarter-final on Saturday has been overshadowed by a dispute over whether the ball touched the cable of the stadium's overhead camera in the build-up to England's equaliser.
The incident occurred in the second minute of added time in the first half, with Norway leading 1-0. Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland took a goal-kick, and the ball appeared to make contact with the thin wire of FIFA's Sky Cam, which is suspended over the pitch for aerial coverage. The ball then fell to an England player, and after two passes, Jude Bellingham scored the equaliser.
Norway players, including star striker Erling Haaland, immediately gestured towards the sky, pointing at the cable. Head coach Stale Solbakken also spoke with the match officials after the goal.
Fox Sports, the American broadcaster, raised the issue during its coverage. Host Rebecca Lowe said: 'The ball actually is touched by the cable attached to the cable camera above the stadium. It comes back very quickly to England. Two passes later, it goes to Jude Bellingham and in the back of the net.'
Lowe added that rules expert Mark Clattenburg had stated that if the ball touches any outside object, the whistle should be blown and play should restart with a dropped ball.
FIFA responded by releasing a statement and a video clip on social media. The governing body 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.'
The Connected Ball system uses sensors to detect changes in the ball's movement. FIFA's data indicated no anomaly at the time of the alleged contact.
The match continued with the score 1-1 at halftime. Norway had taken the lead in the 36th minute through Andreas Schjelderup. Bellingham's controversial goal was followed by a second-half disallowed goal for Norway after a VAR review found a foul by Haaland. England also had a goal from Harry Kane ruled offside and a penalty decision overturned.
The game remained level after 90 minutes, forcing extra time. Bellingham scored his second goal in the first period of extra time to give England a 2-1 lead, which they held until the final whistle.
England will now face the winner of the quarter-final between Argentina and Switzerland.
