“Expulsion and Camera Wire” Spark Controversy in the Latest Quarterfinal Clash

The last two matches of the quarter-finals sparked controversy over refereeing decisions. In the match between Argentina and Switzerland, Swiss striker Breel Embolo was sent off with a red card after the “wrong player” rule was applied and the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened to confirm that Embolo had dived and deceived the referee. In the England-Norway match, Norwegian players protested after Jude Bellingham’s goal, which earned England a draw, on the grounds that the ball had struck a camera cable.

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) stated that there is “no evidence” to support claims that England’s equalizing goal in their 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals should have been disallowed, after it appeared the ball had hit a camera cable during the buildup. Norwegian players protested to French referee Clément Turpin after Jude Bellingham’s goal in stoppage time, which had originally been awarded as a first-half injury-time goal, securing a 1-1 draw at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Footage of the goal kick taken by goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, which initiated the play leading to Bellingham’s goal, showed the ball’s trajectory appearing to change suddenly before dropping toward England midfielder Elliot Anderson. According to the laws of the game, this should have resulted in a stoppage and a dropped ball restart. However, FIFA clarified that a sensor embedded in the ball—the same technology used to disallow a goal in Croatia’s earlier knockout-stage loss to Portugal—showed no indication that the ball had struck the cable. The statement read: “Before England’s goal in the 45+2nd minute against Norway, the sensor in the ball did not show any peak in the ‘ball pulse’ while the ball was in the air, and therefore there is no evidence that the ball touched the upper cable and changed its trajectory.”

For its part, Switzerland expressed dismay after the sending-off of striker Breel Embolo two days ago in the quarter-final of the North American World Cup against Argentina (1-3 after extra time), with midfielder Fabian Rieder describing the decision as “catastrophic.” Argentine Leandro Paredes received a yellow card for an alleged foul on Embolo in the second half.

However, the referee, after consulting video replays with his assistants, identified simulation by the French club Rennes striker and punished him with a second yellow card, resulting in a red card. Coach Murat Yakin expressed surprise at the initial yellow card given to Paredes and the chain of events that followed. Speaking at a press conference, he said: “There was no justification for giving that yellow card. I don’t understand; it was a harmless challenge. I don’t understand how that decision was made, and in the end, our player was sent off.” He emphasized that he does not blame Embolo: “It would be absurd to hold him responsible. He is completely devastated because he couldn’t help the team.” He added, “Even with ten men, we fought hard. We did a great job, and we wanted to reach penalty kicks because the momentum would have been with us.”