England sealed their spot in the World Cup semi-final on Saturday evening with a 2-1 win over Norway after extra time. But the game wasn't short of controversial calls.
VAR intervened on two different incidents to overturn a Norway goal and penalty for England. However, there was major controversy around England's equaliser through Jude Bellingham.
The goal involved ex-Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson after replays appeared to reveal the ball made contact with the overhead sky camera wire from a Norway goal kick.
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As Orjan Nyland smashed the ball forward, television footage indicated it slightly clipped the camera system before falling to the feet of Anderson. The midfielder brought it down with sublime skill before passing to Anthony Gordon, who laid it off for Bellingham.
According to FIFA's Laws of the Game, play must restart with a dropped ball if the ball touches a match official or an outside agent, including overhead equipment such as a camera suspended above the pitch, reports Wales Online.
Norway players immediately protested the decision before manager Stale Solbakken confronted referee Clement Turpin at the half-time whistle. Both Nyland and Erling Haaland were also spotted pointing towards the sky, insisting the ball had made contact with the camera.
Orjan Nyland
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Orjan Nyland was furious with England's first goal against Norway(Image: MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP via Getty Images)
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, appearing as a pundit for Fox, felt the incident warranted review by the video assistant referee.
He said: "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 by VAR."
Following the Three Lions' win, FIFA addressed the incident by releasing footage from the connected match ball's sensor, assuring there was no evidence the ball had made contact whilst in the air.
In a statement posted on social media alongside the data, FIFA 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."
Anderson was involved in another incident later in the game which left Norway furious. Andreas Schjeldrup admitted he felt their disallowed goal in the second half, netted by Torbjorn Heggem, should not have been overturned for Haaland's shove on Anderson.
The Man City striker pushed his new teammate to the ground before a corner came in, and Turpin ruled the goal out after a VAR intervention. Schjelderup said: "I don't think the 2-1 goal should have been disallowed. If it's a free kick, then you can give a lot of free kicks during a football match. It's a very soft foul, and I actually feel a bit robbed. It was a crazy moment."
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