MIAMI (United States) — Norway coach Stale Solbakken said he was convinced the ball struck an overhead camera cable before England scored a crucial equaliser in their World Cup quarter-final victory.
While FIFA swiftly issued a statement after Norway’s 2-1 defeat in Miami to say that a chip sensor embedded in the ball showed no sign of it hitting a cable, Solbakken was adamant.
“That was unlucky for us,” Solbakken said according to AFP. “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.”
The flashpoint came in first-half stoppage time when Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland’s long clearance appeared to suddenly change trajectory and fell into the path of England player Elliot Anderson, who launched the attack which led to Jude Bellingham’s equaliser.
Norway’s players protested on the field to French referee Clement Turpin – who could have disallowed the goal ordered a drop ball under FIFA rules – but to no avail.
Solbakken expressed sympathy for Turpin’s refusal to disallow the goal.
“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,” Solbakken said 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.”
In its statement FIFA said the chip sensor technology – used to disallow a goal in Croatia’s knockout defeat to Portugal earlier in the tournament – showed there was “no evidence” of the ball hitting the cable.
