Erling Haaland’s father has put blame on the referee after Norway were knocked out of the World Cup by England.
England eked out a 2-1 extra-time victory to seal their place in the semi-finals with Jude Bellingham scoring both, first cancelling out Andreas Schjelderup’s opener on the brink of half-time before pouncing on a rebound in the 93rd minute to net the winner.
However, England’s win did not go without controversy, with question marks surrounding their equaliser as well as the chalking off of Norway’s second goal, which might have proved the difference in normal time had it stood.
Eager not to diminish Bellingham’s superb individual performance while also expressing his dismay at referee Clement Turpin, former Manchester City midfielder Alfie Haaland took to X and posted: “Well done Bellingham and referee.”
In the build-up to Bellingham’s leveller, Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland’s goal kick appeared to touch a cable above the Miami Stadium, leading the ball to drop out of the air to Elliot Anderson who sparked the move England scored from.
By the letter of the law, the goal should have been ruled out due to a direct interference in play, but VAR did not act. Fifa then went on to insist no mistake was made despite the apparent change in trajectory of the ball, citing its “snicko” technology which provided “no evidence the ball touched the overhead wire”.
But after half-time, Norway were left feeling hard done by once again.
Stale Solbakken’s side thought they had restored their lead as Torbjorn Heggem forced home from a corner, only for VAR to intervene.
It was deemed that star striker Haaland had committed a foul by pushing Elliot Anderson to the ground, and after Turpin was recommended to review the incident at the monitor, the goal was overturned.
England also felt the hard side of VAR throughout the match, with Harry Kane seeing his foul appeals fall on deaf ears for Norway’s opener, before the Three Lions had a penalty overturned in extra-time.
Solbakken, expressing his immense pride of his side following their exit, was in no mood to look for excuses after full-time.
“There are many situations today. And, well, maybe we have been looking at many of them in the World Cup, so these things happen. We just want to wish England the best of luck,” he said.
England will face one of Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals.
