Camera Cable Controversy
England's Equalizer Sparks Controversy After Ball Hits Camera Cable in World Cup Quarterfinal
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Jude Bellingham's equalizer for England against Norway in the World Cup quarterfinal is at the center of a major officiating controversy. In the buildup to his goal, the ball visibly struck a camera cable suspended above the pitch — a clear violation of FIFA's Laws of the Game, according to Sporting News.
Despite the missed call, play continued and Bellingham scored. There was no VAR review. The goal stood. Norway now trails in a match that could have looked very different, according to Yahoo Sports.
What FIFA Rules Say About Camera Cables
FIFA's Laws of the Game are straightforward on this. If the ball hits any outside object — including broadcast equipment like a camera cable — play must stop immediately. The restart is a drop ball. No exceptions. Sporting News confirmed this rule applies directly to the England incident.
That means England's attack should have been halted the moment the ball struck the cable. It wasn't. Referees missed the contact entirely. The play continued, and Bellingham finished to make it 1-1 after Norway had taken the lead.
Fox Studio Crew Catches What Referees Missed
During the halftime break, Fox's studio crew spotted the incident and showed it to viewers. Broadcast footage clearly showed the ball making contact with the cable high above the pitch during the buildup to Bellingham's goal. The moment went unnoticed by match officials in real time, according to Sporting News.
Crucially, VAR did not intervene. Whether officials reviewed the sequence or simply missed it is not yet clear. But the goal was not disallowed and play moved on, leaving Norway's players and staff furious at the halftime whistle.
Norway's Manager Confronts Referees at Halftime
Norway head coach Stale Solbakken did not stay quiet. He was seen in a heated argument with match officials as the teams walked off at halftime. Solbakken made clear he believed the goal should not have counted. His complaints centered on the camera cable contact that the referees failed to call, according to Yahoo Sports.
Norway had taken a 1-0 lead before Bellingham's equalizer wiped it out. Had the rules been applied correctly, Norway could have entered halftime still in front. The missed call has now become one of the most talked-about moments of the tournament.
No Review, No Reversal — Controversy Lingers
VAR exists precisely to catch errors like this. But the system did not flag the cable contact. It is unclear if the camera cable incident falls within the categories VAR is permitted to review. FIFA has not issued a statement explaining why the goal was allowed to stand, according to Sporting News.
England fans celebrated the goal. Norway fans and officials felt robbed. The incident is now a flashpoint in the broader debate about officiating consistency at major tournaments. Whether FIFA addresses it after the match remains to be seen.
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