Jude Bellingham's brace propelled England into the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway, but the match was overshadowed by contentious refereeing decisions that sparked immediate backlash from Norwegian fans and players.
After the defeat, Norway striker Erling Haaland's father Alfie Haaland made a sarcastic comment, jeering the referee for a decision which didn't go their way.
Fabrizio Romano, a prominent football journalist, posted a celebratory message on X shortly after the final whistle.
"Brace against Norway. Six goals in six World Cup games. Always there when England needed the most. Hey, Jude," Romano wrote.
In a direct reply, the Senior Haaland fired back with biting sarcasm: "Well done Bellingham
and referee. "
Well done Bellingham and referee.
- Alfie Haaland (@alfiehaaland) July 11, 2026
The comment quickly gained traction, amassing over 16,000 likes and thousands of replies, many from Norwegian supporters echoing the sentiment.
The match, played at Hard Rock Stadium, featured several flashpoints. Norway took a 36th-minute lead through Andreas Schjelderup.
Why is Alfie Haaland livid over Referee?
The main cause for Norwegians fume is a decision which led up to the English equalizer.
Bellingham equalized just before halftime, but controversy erupted when the build-up ball appeared to strike a Skycam cable overhead. Play continued uninterrupted, and neither the referee, Clement Turpin of France, nor VAR official Jerôme Brisard halted the action or reviewed the incident. Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland and striker Erling Haaland visibly protested to officials at halftime.
Further tension arose when Norway thought they had regained the lead via a corner, only for VAR to disallow the goal after determining Haaland had pushed an England defender in the build-up. Bellingham then scored the winner in extra time, sealing England's progression.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, commentating for Fox Sports, publicly stated that VAR should have intervened on Bellingham's equalizer due to the unusual cable contact. Additional debates surfaced over whether Bellingham avoided disciplinary action in other moments.
The result ends Norway's first World Cup appearance in 28 years on a bitter note, while England advances to face the winner of Argentina vs Switzerland.
