AdminEngland‘s progression to the World Cup semi-finals were clouded by a dramatic controversy on Saturday night in Miami, as Jude Bellingham’s goal against Norway arrived only after the ball appeared to strike a camera cable in the build-up.
It was an incident VAR failed to flag, as replays of the passage of play showed the ball making contact with a broadcast camera cable before England began the move that ended with Bellingham bringing Thomas Tuchel‘s side level.
Under the laws of the game, contact with external equipment that materially aids an attacking side should result in a stoppage, and the goal *should* have been ruled off.
Instead, the officials waved play on, the goal stood, and a moment that should have handed the advantage back to Norway swung England’s way firmly, as they eventually ran out 2–1 winners.
What Went Wrong With the VAR Call?
The role of the video assistant referee is precisely for this kind of incident — an interference in the phase of play that leads directly to a goal.
On this occasion, it didn’t. Whether the cable contact went unseen in the VAR booth or was judged not to have affected the passage of play, no review followed, and no correction was made. For a tournament already marred by officiating rows, it was another unwelcome addition.
Argentina’s progress has involved disputed refereeing calls, and now England find themselves at the centre of their own. Norway supporters have every reason to feel aggrieved, as a goal that ought to have been ruled out was allowed to stand at a pivotal moment.
No explanation from the officials will fully settle the sense of a decision that got away from them, especially at that time in the game and bad officiating has written itself into the story of the 2026 World Cup once again.
FIFA Issue Statement
As per Ben Jacobs, FIFA said there was “no peak on the graph” to suggest the ball hit a camera cable in the build-up to England’s goal. He also noted that: “Norway fuming, and their position backed up by replays. Under the rules, play should have been stopped”
In a further statement, FIFA added:
“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.”
How the Match Played Out
Two of the competition’s great entertainers met for the fifth time at a major tournament. Whilst England began comfortably up to the first hydration break, Andreas Schjelderup fired Norway into the lead with a shot-slash-cross that will be debated, but it didn’t take long for Bellingham, and England, to hit back.
It was Anthony Gordon‘s smart pass that found him on the edge of the box and his expert touch and dribble was topped off by a fine left-foot strike to Thomas Tuchel’s side level. Kane did have the ball in the back of the net shortly after, but it was ruled out for offside as the two sides went in level.
Norway made the early running in the second half, and they thought Torbjorn Heggem had given them the lead only to be scuppered by a VAR check that noticed a push by Erling Haaland on his new Manchester City teammate Elliot Anderson. Both teams battled to full-time with the score level, with both sides experiencing extra-time for the first time this summer.
Bellingham’s extraordinary form continued after Morgan Rogers’ shot forced Ørjan Nyland to parry into the six-yard box and the midfielder was the first to react. That was the Real Madrid star’s sixth World Cup goal, as he surpassed the great Zinedine Zidane‘s entire career output.
England thought they had a chance to kill the game from the penalty spot but Djed Spence’s collision with Oscar Bobb was deemed to be fair challenge after a VAR review. It was originally given as a foul as more drama ensued. Yet, England held on for a place in the semi-finals, facing either the winner of Argentina and Switzerland.
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