Jude Bellingham's goal for England during the World Cup 2026 match against Norway on Friday has ignited controversy, with many arguing it should have been disallowed due to a bizarre incident involving the ball hitting a cable. The match saw Norway initially take the lead before Bellingham equalized, leading to protests from Norwegian players, including Erling Haaland.
Incident Leading to Bellingham's Goal
The controversy arose when a goal kick from Norway's Orjan Nyland seemingly struck the cable supporting the overhead TV camera. This unexpected deflection allowed the ball to fall into the path of Elliot Anderson, who assisted Bellingham for the goal. According to former referee Mark Clattenburg, such an incident should have halted the match and resulted in a drop ball.
Clattenburg stated, "If the ball touches any outside object, then the whistle should go, and it should be a drop ball." He also noted that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) could have intervened, as the incident leading to a goal falls under reviewable situations.
Norway's Reactions and FIFA's Response
Norwegian players were visibly upset, with Haaland leading the protests directed at the referee. Despite their objections, FIFA later denied that the ball made contact with the cable, sparking further frustration among the players. Norway had initially taken the lead with a stunning goal from Andreas Schjelderup, but their momentum was challenged by the controversial goal.
