FIFA technology saved England from having their first goal against Norway disallowed.
Norway players protested Jude Bellingham’s equaliser in Miami just before half-time in their quarter-final showdown.
Norway players thought the ball hit the camera cable before England’s equaliser Credit: Fox
Jude Bellingham went on to equalise for England in Miami Credit: Reuters
Television footage showed that the ball may have touched a camera cable in the build-up to the goal.
It came after a goal-kick from Orjan Nyland with the ball coming close to a cable overhead.
Sign up for the Football newsletter
Thank you!
If this was the case, then Fifa rules say that play should have been stopped and restarted again with a drop ball.
But England were allowed to play on and found themselves an equaliser in Miami.
READ MORE ON THE WORLD CUP
Oh Maya god
Fans stunned to see who Maya Jama sat with in crowd at England World Cup clash
WORLDIE OFFERS
World Cup 2026 free bets and offers: Best new football sign-up deals
The ball landed at the feet of Elliott Anderson, who passed the ball to Anthony Gordon.
He then set up Bellingham to score England’s leveller in the quarter-final clash.
And Fifa released a statement confirming the use of technology in the incident.
Fifa Media posted on X: “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.”
WORLD CUP 2026 FREE BETS AND SIGN UP OFFERS
Norway boss Stale Solbakken was left fuming at referee Clement Turpin at half-time.
TV cameras spotted him gesturing to the official during the break.
Ex-Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg said on Fox: “VAR can interfere if that contact of the ball on the camera cable is part of a reviewable incident, an attacking phase of play leading to a goal is part of the var reviewable incident. it should have been picked up the VAR.”
England capitalised on the moment and came from behind to beat Norway.
Bellingham scored early in extra-time to seal a nervy 2-1 win and a place in the semi-finals.
