‘Dropped From Heaven’: Norway Coach Challenges FIFA’s Spidercam Ruling After Bellingham Controversy

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Norway coach Ståle Solbakken remains unconvinced by FIFA’s explanation over Jude Bellingham’s equaliser in England’s 2-1 World Cup quarter-final win. He insists the ball clearly struck the overhead Spidercam wire before falling into the net. England recovered from going behind—when Schjelderup’s cross deflected off the post—to level through Bellingham, who then scored the extra-time winner. Solbakken raised the issue with referee Clément Turpin at half-time, but the referee allowed the goal to stand. In his post-match press conference, Solbakken said, “I can’t argue with FIFA if there is no sound in the chip. The ball just drops straight down from heaven. I think it’s pretty clear that it did, and it was a strange thing.” FIFA later stated that the sensor in the match ball showed no contact with the Spidercam cable. They maintain there was no “peak in the heartbeat of the ball” to indicate any interference.

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