A major development has surfaced in the ongoing discussion surrounding whether England’s equaliser against Norway in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals ought to have been ruled out.
Jude Bellingham levelled the score after Andreas Schjelderup had put Norway ahead, producing a brilliant solo effort just before the interval.
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However, replay footage appeared to suggest the ball’s path altered after striking one of the spidercam cables following Orjan Nyland’s goal-kick.
Speaking after Norway’s 2-1 loss at the Miami Stadium, head coach Stale Solbakken addressed the incident during his post-match press conference.
“Many on the bench reacted immediately, I was not one of them. I can’t say anything about that because FIFA, if there is no sound in the chip, what can I say against that?
“The ball drops straight down from heaven. I saw another way just then so I also don’t know what happened. I think it’s pretty clear that it did and yeah, it was a strange thing.”
Take a look at this clip from BBC’s 3D replay of the game and the goal kick just before England’s goal. I don’t know where the data comes for this, but this clearly shows a bump in the otherwise smooth trajectory of the ball right where the spidercam would be. #worldcup #engnor… pic.twitter.com/rCsbVQZeyf
— Miika Arponen (@MiikaArponen) July 12, 2026
FIFA later released a statement addressing the controversy.
“Before England’s goal in minute 45+2 against Norway, the sensor in the Connected Ball showed no peak in the ‘heartbeat of the ball’ when in the air, and therefore no evidence that the ball touched the overhead wire and changed the movement of the ball.”
Despite FIFA’s explanation, the debate intensified after BBC Sport’s 3D replay technology appeared to support claims that Nyland’s goal-kick had been affected by one of the spidercam cables.
BBC Sport’s VAR specialist, Dale Johnson, has since responded after the 3D replay footage spread widely online.
Addressing claims that the height of the ball could affect how the chip inside the Adidas TRIONDA ball captures data, Johnson dismissed the theory, saying: This is not true.
This is the official data from Fifa’s connected ball technology with regards to England’s first goal.
No indication whatsoever that there was any change in:
Brown line: Touch or deviation
Blue line: The spin rateBetween the kick by the goalkeeper and the touch by Anderson. pic.twitter.com/usQLG9ebdn
— Dale Johnson (@DaleJohnsonBBC) July 12, 2026
There are 16 antennas for the ball signal under the roof. Also, the ‘heartbeat of the ball’, was available at all times. There is a very slight ‘wave’ which is the ball travelling through the air. Plus, the cable cam footage doesn’t shake or move.”
Johnson also pointed out that, although BBC’s 3D replay technology is highly advanced, it is not completely flawless. He cited a previous example from the Round of 32 encounter between Ivory Coast and Norway, where the system incorrectly interpreted the ball’s flight.
He further shared an image from FIFA’s connected ball technology, stating it showed “no indication whatsoever” that the ball’s movement changed between Nyland’s goal-kick and the moment Elliot Anderson took control of possession.
According to all the data collected by FIFA, England’s equalising goal was valid and should not have been disallowed, despite television replays appearing to suggest otherwise.
