England Advances to World Cup Semifinals Amid Controversy Over Deflected Goal Against Norway

England secured a 2-1 victory over Norway to reach the World Cup semifinals, but the match ended amid controversy over a disputed equalizing goal by Jude Bellingham. The incident occurred just before halftime when Norway's goalkeeper, Ørjan Nyland, kicked the ball toward midfield. The ball struck an overhead cable supporting a drone camera, altering its trajectory and landing near an English player, who quickly passed it forward. After two passes, Bellingham scored the equalizer. Norwegian players protested to referee Kalman Turpan, but their complaints were dismissed and the game continued. According to the rules, the game should have been stopped and restarted with a drop ball, and VAR could have been used to review the incident. However, FIFA stated that the ball's sensor showed no evidence of contact with the cable or a change in its movement.

This event adds to the controversial VAR decisions seen throughout the 2026 World Cup. The VAR official for this match was Jérôme Brisard, who was also involved in a disputed call during the Egypt-Argentina game. Norwegian media described the incident as a historic scandal that could become one of the biggest controversies in World Cup history if the goal proves decisive.

In another notable refereeing incident, Swiss player Breel Embolo was sent off with a second yellow card in the 72nd minute during a 1-1 match against Argentina. The decision followed a complex VAR review involving mistaken identity and simulation, which led to the yellow card being transferred from Leandro Paredes to Embolo. Embolo reacted emotionally, breaking down in tears, while teammates and Swiss captain Granit Xhaka protested the decision. ITV Sport commentator Jobi McAnuff criticized the red card as a harsh call for such a high-stakes match.

These incidents highlight ongoing debates about VAR's role and refereeing consistency in the 2026 World Cup as the tournament progresses toward its final stages.