England Advances to World Cup Semifinals Amid Controversy Over Camera Cable Interference

England secured a 2-1 victory over Norway to reach the World Cup semifinals, but the match ended amid controversy over a disputed goal. The equalizer by Jude Bellingham, scored just before halftime, followed a Norwegian goalkeeper's clearance that struck an overhead camera cable, altering the ball's trajectory. Norwegian players protested to referee Kalman Turpan, but their complaints were dismissed, and the goal stood. According to FIFA, the ball's sensor showed no evidence of contact with the cable, and VAR was not used to review the incident, although rules suggest play should have been stopped and restarted with a drop ball.

This incident adds to the contentious VAR decisions seen throughout the 2026 World Cup. The VAR official for the England-Norway match was Jerome Brisard, who was also involved in a controversial disallowed goal in the Egypt-Argentina game. Norwegian media described the event as a historic scandal that could become one of the tournament's biggest controversies if the goal proves decisive.

In a separate match between Argentina and Switzerland, another controversial VAR decision led to the red card of Swiss forward Breel Embolo after a second yellow for simulation. Initially, a free kick was awarded to Switzerland, but after VAR review for mistaken identity and simulation, the yellow card was reassigned from Argentine player Leandro Paredes to Embolo, resulting in his dismissal. Embolo reacted emotionally, crying on the field, while teammates and Swiss captain Granit Xhaka protested the decision. Commentators criticized the red card as a harsh call given the match's significance.

These incidents highlight ongoing debates about VAR's role and consistency in the 2026 World Cup, with FIFA maintaining that sensor data and video evidence guide decisions, though controversies persist.