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Controversy over England-Norway World Cup quarter-final cable incident and match outcome

By The Media Fact Checker teamUpdated 4 hours ago2 articles from 2 sources

Consensus Summary

England advanced to the World Cup semi-finals after a controversial 2-1 extra-time win over Norway in the quarter-finals, with Jude Bellingham scoring both goals. The match was marred by a disputed incident where Norway’s goal kick appeared to hit an overhead cable before Bellingham’s equaliser, though FIFA’s ball sensor technology found no evidence of contact. Norway’s head coach StĂ„le Solbakken protested the decision to referee ClĂ©ment Turpin, arguing the ball’s trajectory was altered. Norway, who had led through Andreas Schjelderup’s 36th-minute goal, were kept scoreless by England’s defense for the first time in 16 matches for Erling Haaland, who finished the tournament with 7 goals. The match took place at Miami Stadium before a crowd of 64,478, with England now aiming for a repeat of their 1966 World Cup triumph as they prepare to face Argentina in the semi-finals. Both sources agree on the cable controversy and FIFA’s sensor ruling, though the SMH provides additional tactical and VAR-related details absent in the Guardian.

✓ Verified by 2+ sources

Key details reported by multiple sources:

  • England won 2-1 over Norway in extra time in the World Cup quarter-finals
  • Jude Bellingham scored the match-winning goal in extra time
  • Norway scored first in the 36th minute via Andreas Schjelderup
  • England’s goal kick appeared to hit an overhead cable before Bellingham’s equaliser
  • FIFA cited a sensor in the ball showing no evidence the ball touched the cable
  • England’s fourth World Cup semi-final appearance in their last five major championships (1966, 1990, 2018)
  • Norway’s Erling Haaland scored 7 goals in the tournament
  • The match was played at Miami Stadium with a crowd of 64,478
  • Norway’s head coach StĂ„le Solbakken confronted referee ClĂ©ment Turpin after the half
  • The Croatia-Portugal game was referenced in relation to VAR and ball sensor technology

Points of Difference

Details reported by only one source:

Sydney Morning Herald
  • England’s Jude Bellingham scored the tying goal in the first half and the match-winner in extra time
  • Norway’s Andreas Schjelderup opened the scoring in the 36th minute
  • England’s equaliser came in stoppage time of the first half via Bellingham
  • VAR ruled out a goal for Norway in the 58th minute (Torbjorn Heggem) and a penalty for England in extra time (Eberechi Eze)
  • England’s Harry Kane was denied a goal in the first half for offside, confirmed by VAR
  • Norway’s Erling Haaland was substituted at halftime of extra time
  • England will face Argentina in the semi-finals in Atlanta
  • Norway’s last World Cup appearance was 28 years prior
  • England’s semi-final progress matches their appearances in 1966, 1990, and 2018
  • Norway’s Orjan Nyland was the goalkeeper
  • England’s Jordan Pickford was the goalkeeper
  • Norway’s Alexander Sorloth and Martin Odegaard created scoring chances
  • England’s Bukayo Saka and Djed Spence were substitutes who created chances
  • England’s Anthony Gordon played a key pass for Bellingham’s equaliser
  • Norway’s Julian Ryerson crossed for Haaland’s header in the 35th minute
  • Patrick Berg stripped Harry Kane in the 35th minute
  • Norway’s Erling Haaland was kept scoreless for the first time in 16 matches
  • England’s Morgan Rogers scored a rebound goal in the 3rd minute of extra time
  • England’s Clement Turpin was the referee
  • VAR Jerome Brisard officiated the match and the Argentina-Egypt quarter-final
The Guardian
  • Norway’s StĂ„le Solbakken claimed the ball hit a cable before Bellingham’s equaliser
  • Solbakken said the ball ‘fell down straight in front of the bench’ after the kick
  • England’s Thomas Tuchel referenced the Croatia-Portugal game’s VAR decision involving a hair touch
  • Solbakken accepted the decision but called it ‘unlucky’ for Norway

Contradictions

Conflicting information between sources:

  • The SMH states Norway’s last World Cup appearance was 28 years prior, but the Guardian does not mention this specific detail
  • The SMH specifies England’s fourth semi-final in their last five major championships (1966, 1990, 2018), while the Guardian does not reference this
  • The SMH details VAR interventions in the 58th minute and extra time, but the Guardian does not mention these specific moments
  • The SMH includes specific player actions (e.g., Haaland substituted at halftime of extra time, Kane’s offside decision), which the Guardian omits

Source Articles

SMH

Controversy over lead-up to England goal as Norway knocked out of World Cup

Norway’s protests fell on deaf ears and FIFA insisted the right decision was made, but video appeared to show the ball changing trajectory in midair.

6 hours ago
GUARDIAN

Norway’s StĂ„le Solbakken claims ball struck cable before England equaliser

Replays suggested ball goal-kick struck a camera cable Fifa says ball sensor showed no evidence of contact Norway’s head coach, StĂ„le Solbakken, complained that England had benefited from the ball hitting an overhead cable before Jude Bellingham equalised in the World Cup quarter-final . Replays appeared to show a Norway goal-kick hitting a cable in the buildup, although Fifa released a statement saying a sensor in the ball showed no evidence it had touched. Continue reading...

6 hours ago