FIFA have stated that there was “no evidence that the ball touched the overhead wire” despite the football words being up in arms over the incident that led to Jude Bellingham’s equaliser in England’s 2-1 World Cup quarter-final win against Norway in Miami.
Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland’s goal kick appeared to clearly strike a camera wire and drop shot, allowing England to quickly surge forward on the attack during first half stoppage time.
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Bellingham eventually scored the first of his second straight World Cup double after a brilliant run into the box and an excellent left foot strike.
But many are convinced a drop ball should have been called after the ball hit the wire.
Bellingham wins it for the Three Lions! | 00:26
Nyland and Norway manager Ståle Solbakken were seen pointing the issue out to the officials, but there protests went unheard.
“It’s a little bit bizarre that something like this can happen,” former Socceroos goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne said on SBS.
“Again England win but there is some controversy around this.”
Former Socceroo Tommy Oar added: “You can see that the trajectory of the ball completely changes and that it what allows that bit of space for England to begin the attack.
“So, I completely understand Norway’s frustrations at this. I think it was an error. I, personally, think they should have acknowledged the error rather than doubling down on the technology stance.
“We saw in this game, decisions both ways potentially, Norway getting the goal ruled out in the second half and England probably should have had a penalty in extra-time.
“So, I think both teams will feel a little bit aggrieved with the different decisions in this game.”
FIFA have conjured up more controversy by deeming that sensor within the ball showed “no peaks in the ‘heartbeat of the ball’ when in the air” and thus ticked off VAR not intervening.
It is the latest drama surrounding the use of ‘Snicko’ technology that is used in cricket and has made its way into football via placing chips inside of the World Cup balls.
Croatia were denied a last-gasp equaliser in their thrilling Round of 32 loss to Portugal because of the ‘Snicko’ showing a spike as the ball passed the head of Croatia’s Igor Matanovic, which ruled teammate Mario Pasalic offside.
The broadcast replays were inconclusive but VAR ruled out the goal based on graph showing a spike. However, in another twist, there are claims the technology would not have picked it up anyway because it is only set up for a certain height.
“There was no spike in the ball with the technology being used,” Matildas great Lydia Williams said of the camera wire incident on SBS.
“Do you come to question when do we rely too much on technology and not enough on human decisions? I think this was one of those moments where it was quite clear that it probably should have been a drop ball.”
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburgh spoke about the issue on Fox Sports in the US, saying: “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 the VAR.”
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Solbakken was surprisingly calm when asked about the incident post-match.
“That was unlucky for for us,” the Norway manager said. “The ball fell straight down from the sky, so it changed its direction.
“But we can’t do anything about that. I don’t think we will play the game again. So, that’s how it is.”
“He says that he didn’t see it himself, and that he didn’t get any message that it actually happened, and that’s a good explanation,” he added of the French official.
“And since FIFA says that there was no touch, and that there is no signal from the chip and the ball, then he can’t do anything about it.
“But the ball fell straight down just in front of the bench. So I mean, it did touch it.
“If there’s been no sound or nothing from the chip, what can I say against that? But the ball drops down straight from heaven.”
Meanwhile, England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted that his side was fortunate post-game despite not addressing the circumstances that led to Bellingham’s first goal.
“We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today. The result is fantastic, we’re in the last four. It’s amazing. I’m not happy with the performance,” Tuchel said.
“In every sense. The commitment is there but we made life very, very difficult for us in the way we played, how we played. Sloppy, tactical mistakes, not fast enough. Not repetitive enough. We were lucky enough.”
Bellingham was asked on ITV about Tiuchel saying England were “lucky” and the Real Madrid superstar replied: “Whatever.”
“It is difficult out there. It was a tough shift,” he added.
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England were spared falling behind for a second time in the game when Torbjorn Heggen’s goal was ruled out early in the second half.
After a scramble in the box, at least five England players appealed for a foul before the corner was whipping in.
VAR stepped in to rule the goal out because of Erling Haaland’s push on his new Manchester City teammate Elliot Anderson.
“It feels a bit empty, to be honest,” Haaland told TV 2. “I felt we deserved more. I don’t think it’s a free kick.
“It’s been disallowed because I push Elliot Anderson to the ground, like I get pushed in every single duel. It’s a bit bitter.
“Small moments decide things in the World Cup. Against Brazil we managed to turn it in our favour. Today when we get the 50/50 decisions against us it will be difficult.”
In another interview, Haaland added: “So, if there is a free kick, I almost have to get a free kick in every duel – in every single match. Because I get pushed, I get pulled all the way, and I think it’s weak.”
But Solbakken was not using the officials’ decisions as an excuse.
“Well, we can sit here, we can complain, and maybe we can rightfully feel that most margins today went in our disadvantage, but against Brazil, margins were in our favour,” he said.
“That was definitely not the case today, but that’s also part of football. And maybe we need some margins in our favour to beat the world’s best teams, Brazil and England, who are among the top five in FIFA’s ranking, I’m quite sure that we can. You spend a lot of time on those situations, but it doesn’t help us.”