FIFA stated there was “no evidence” a ball struck an overhead wire at Miami Stadium before England scored late in the first half of its World Cup quarterfinal on Saturday against Norway. A Norway goal kick “appeared to clip a wire over the field” shortly before England MF Jude Bellingham scored to tie the match at 1-1. By rule, if the ball “had been noticed hitting the wire, play would have stopped and a drop ball would have been utilized to determine possession.” Play “was not interrupted, and it was not known” if VAR Jerome Brisard reviewed the play (ESPN.com, 7/11).
Fox’s Rebecca Lowe prior to the start of the second half noted Norway manager Stale Solbakken was “not happy with the referee” and GK Orjan Nyland was “pointing up and saying it touched the cable on that cable camera.” Lowe: “The problem I suppose … is it’s hard to see.” Fox’s Alexi Lalas said, “The law is that law, but you have to see the law being broken in order to make a decision.” Fox’s John Strong asked, “How big of a miss is that that no one spotted that in real time?” Fox’s Mark Clattenburg: “Why does the VAR not interfere? Yes they can interfere if that contact on the ball on the camera cable is part of a reviewable incident. … It should have been picked up by the VAR” (“England-Norway,” Fox, 7/11).
