FIFA addresses overhead wire controversy in England win over Norway
England achieved a huge 2-1 victory over Norway in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, earning a spot in the semifinals, but it wasn’t without major controversy.
The first half of the matchup featured Norway’s Andreas Schjelderup scoring at the 36-minute mark, putting his team ahead, 1-0. England’s Jude Bellingham responded with an equalizer two minutes into the first half’s stoppage time.
However, controversy ensued, as many individuals, including Fox’s commentators, pointed out that before that goal, the ball made contact with a FIFA sky cam’s wire above the field. The incident occurred after Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland had kicked the ball high into the air down the field.
According to The International Football Association Board (IFAB), “if play is stopped because the ball makes contact with a match official or outside agent, the ball is dropped where the contact occurred.”
Many individuals contended that the overhead wire was an “outside agent,” so the play should have been stopped, rather than continuing and allowing Bellingham to score an equalizer goal.
More news: Jordan Pickford Breaks 36-Year England Record in World Cup Quarterfinal Win
However, FIFA released a statement on social media along with a slow-motion video to explain why play continued.
“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,” FIFA said in a statement, which included a slow-motion video and a graph.
Many commenters weren’t happy with FIFA’s explanation, mentioning a similar controversial incident at the World Cup that went against Croatia.
“FIFA somehow found the slightest touch when the ball brushed a Croatian player, yet they couldn’t find any evidence when it supposedly hit the wire. Absolutely ridiculous,” someone wrote.
“Proof that the sensor cannot be trusted This is how Croatia was eliminated This is a BIG SCANDAL,” a commenter replied.
“So we are supposed to ignore what everyone clearly saw with their own eyes because a sensor says otherwise? technology is there to assist not replace common sense,” a commenter wrote.
“We have eyes. We can see how the ball clearly got stuck on something before falling vertically on the ground,” another commenter said.
FIFA’s explanation clearly didn’t sit well with those who previously saw the sensor technology in the ball determine that a goal from Croatia, which would have tied their game against Portugal, wasn’t good. That particular goal was reviewed by VAR with the technology in the ball as part of the review.
The controversy in Norway’s loss to England adds yet another to the list of criticisms about VAR and officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. England’s Bellingham would eventually score a second goal at the 93-minute mark to push the lead to 2-1.
That score held through the final moments of extra time, sending England to the semifinals against the winner of Argentina and Switzerland’s match.
More news: England’s Thomas Tuchel Put on Notice Ahead of Norway World Cup Match
For more about the FIFA World Cup, head over to Newsweek Sports.
