Revealed: Little-known reason why Jude Bellingham’s first goal should NOT have stood – as Norway fans complain about England’s equaliser in World Cup quarter-final
England’s equalizer against Norway sparked controversy after eagle-eyed fans suggested it came as a result of the ball appearing to hit a camera cable in the build-up, which should have led to play being stopped.
According to the Official IFAB Laws of the Game, if the ball hits the ceiling or equipment suspended above the pitch, such as a cable or overhead camera, and remains within the field of play, the match must be stopped.
The referee must then award a dropped ball to the team that last touched the ball and play must restart from the point below where the ball contacted the fixture.
In Miami, the Three Lions were falling behind when Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Nyland took a goal kick in first-half injury time.
Footage showed the ball’s trajectory suddenly changing before falling near the halfway line to Elliot Anderson, who pinned Anthony Gordon on the left wing.
Gordon then delivered an excellent cross to Jude Bellingham, who took two touches to slot past Nyland and bring England level just before the break.
However, FIFA disputed the claim that the ball touched the goal post.
On X they published: ‘England’s 45+2 against Norway. ‘Prior to his goal in minutes, the sensor on the Connected Ball showed no peak in the ‘heartbeat of the ball’ while in the air and therefore there was no evidence that the ball had touched the wire in the air and changed the ball’s movement.’
Gordon sent a perfect ball to Bellingham, who took two touches and then slotted it past Nyland to level the score just before the break.
A chip is attached to each of the footballs used in the tournament and ‘connected ball technology’ is used, which transfers the data directly to the VAR system.
The microchip produces accurate, instantaneous data on everything from ball movement, speed and trajectory to player touches, while Adidas claims the technology enables ‘in-game referee decisions to be made faster and provides more insight into gameplay than ever before’.
The system was at the center of controversy earlier in the tournament when Sweden scored against Tunisia in the group stage.
Matthias Svanberg scored after converting a free kick in the second half, but his effort was initially ruled out for offside.
However, sensors inside the ball determined that Sweden and Liverpool striker Alexander Isak had made very light touches after the free kick. At this point Svanberg was back in an offside position, meaning the goal stood.
Later in the tournament, Croatia’s final goal in the last 32 match against Portugal was canceled out for similar reasons after the heartbeat monitor determined Igor Matanovic was offside as he prepared for Josko Gvardiol’s scrambled goal.
