Alf-Inge Haaland was in the stands in Miami to watch his son's Norway side lost 2-1 to England at the World Cup
Alf-Inge Haaland was left disgruntled as Norway crashed out of the World Cup following a 2-1 defeat to England
Alf-Inge Haaland was left furious as Norway crashed out of the World Cup following a 2-1 defeat to England(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
View Image
Erling Haaland's dad and former Manchester City star Alf-Inge Haaland has slammed FIFA following Norway's dramatic defeat to England at the World Cup. Norway took the lead on 36 minutes thanks to a fortunate Andreas Schjelderup strike, but the Three Lions equalised on the stroke of half-time through Jude Bellingham.
Norway were angered by the equaliser with their boss Stale Solbakken, among others, claiming Orjan Nyland's goal kick in the build-up struck the wires of the camera above the pitch. "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," a FIFA statement read, denying the ball had touched the camera wires.
"Therefore no evidence that the ball touched the overhead wire and changed the movement of the ball."
In the second half, Norway thought they were back in front as Torbjorn Heggem scored from close range. However, after reviewing the pitchside monitor, referee Clement Turpin ordered the initial corner to be retaken due to a foul by Haaland on his new City teammate Elliot Anderson. That decision would prove decisive as Bellingham struck early in extra time to put England in front.
Haaland Snr was in the Miami crowd and was caught making his feelings clear when Djed Spence looked to have been awarded a penalty. The 53-year-old mimicked a diving motion as, again, Turpin reviewed the footage and overturned his original decision, claiming Spence had initiated the contact before being tripped.
Fortunately for the Three Lions, that decision did not affect the final score with Thomas Tuchel's side booking a semi-final with Argentina on Wednesday. However, Haaland's father was visibly annoyed by the result and took to X to air his opinions.
Responding to journalist Fabrizio Romano's tweet praising Bellingham's six goals in six World Cup games, he wrote: "Well done Bellingham and referee." Then, interacting with Henry Winter's tweets from the game, Haaland Snr replied: "OMG (Oh my God)," to the decision to overturn Norway's second.
Before adding: "Really? Saved by the referee. Hope you win the World Cup now. But feel we got robbed today."
Ahead of the second period of extra time, Haaland was substituted by head coach Solbakken. Explaining his decision to replace the City talisman, he said: "It was not a tough decision to take him out, because he was finished.
"Maybe I should have taken him out ten minutes before. Obviously, he has had a tremendous World Cup, he used all his energy and power game after game after game.
"I think that he also got a dead leg in the second half, so that combined with the fatigue. But he did everything that he could, I think he was a bit unlucky in a couple of situations.
"But he scored seven goals in five games for us, he had a fantastic World Cup."