Former English referee Mark Clattenburg confirmed that an alternative camera angle of the Spidercam incident in the England vs Norway match foretells a new scandal that casts a shadow over the World Cup.

The former English referee analyzed the controversial incident of Bellingham's goal, the first in the Norway match, which sparked Norwegian objections, claiming the ball hit the cable of the Spidercam, in an article in the Daily Mail as follows:

Clattenburg said that England scored the equalizer in the Norway match 1-1 (England won 2-1) early this morning in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal, and fans were celebrating Jude Bellingham's wonderful goal with great enthusiasm.

But then I noticed that Norway's goalkeeper, Orjan Nyland, was protesting to the French referee, Clement Turpin. Then the halftime whistle was blown.

After that, the Norwegian bench erupted in anger at the fourth official, Alejandro Hernández... Clearly, Norway's coach, Ståle Solbakken, was not satisfied.

Fox Sports, with whom I work as a rules analyst during this World Cup, allowed me and the team to review the reason for their intense displeasure. Then we watched the clip. That video clip. Maybe you also saw it on social media. The angle showing the ball suddenly falling from the air. Almost no one knows the rules.

We all remember the beach ball incident in the Sunderland vs Liverpool match, right? When there is outside interference? I started wondering if the ball here had hit something, like the cables from the four corners that carry the "Spidercam" suspended above the pitch.

Its trajectory was not natural as it fell to the ground and onto the feet of Elliot Anderson from the angle we were watching.

From there, Anderson moved forward for England before passing the ball to Anthony Gordon, who then passed it to Bellingham to score the equalizer. So, if the ball did hit one of these cables, it played a crucial role in England's equalizer, and if the evidence existed, the goal would not have been given.

FIFA's statement and the credibility of the international federation

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) issued a statement clarifying that the sensors inside the ball did not detect any contact. We were told they can detect the slightest touch, and therefore would have known if it hit a tension cable.

Of course, FIFA would never say otherwise for fear that another scandal would cast a shadow over this World Cup. Perhaps this condemns FIFA and indicates a decline in fans' trust in it in today's football world, where many supporters refuse to believe it.

For me, it seems something happened, but the technology does not support that claim.

I feel sorry for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), Jerome Brisard of France. Would he have known to check something so unusual? Did he have the right angle to verify it? Was the apparent sensor data available to him, and did he even think to consult it? The "click" measure in football?

Everything ended quickly with the match restarting, and none of us had enough time to analyze things ourselves until after.

In Norway, they might at least say that Dick Turpin was wearing a mask. In England, perhaps there is some gratitude that Clement Turpin was officiating this match, and that something suspicious was not detected.

Bellingham and his teammates received fair treatment overall, even though we heard complaints that the penalty awarded for a foul on Djed Spence should have been given because it was ultimately overturned... I personally do not support that. Spence went over the line and I was looking for him. I agreed with that VAR change.

Haaland and England's luck

The English team was lucky that Erling Haaland put both hands on Anderson at the corner from which Norway scored their goal. The ball was not in play, so the referee ordered the kick to be retaken after reviewing the footage, as Haaland gave him a reason to disallow the goal. But I fully understand Norway's feeling that the crucial decisions did not go their way in this quarterfinal match.

England will be happy that things worked out in the end, even if Thomas Tuchel was not entirely satisfied with it.