Norway’s Erling Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, criticized the officiating following Norway’s 2-1 loss to England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final. He alleged that the referee influenced the outcome, sparking debate over key decisions that went against Norway during the match. Despite Norway taking an early lead, England secured a spot in the semi-finals through Jude Bellingham’s goals.
Alf-Inge Haaland expressed dissatisfaction on social media, suggesting that crucial moments favored England. One contentious incident involved a clearance by Norway’s goalkeeper that seemingly hit the Spidercam above the pitch, leading to England’s equalizer. Although Norway protested for play to stop due to outside interference, FIFA confirmed no impact was detected, allowing the goal to stand.
After the game, Alf-Inge Haaland’s critical comments on the referee’s role circulated online. While his son, Erling Haaland, remained silent on the issue, the Manchester City striker was unable to score for the first time in the tournament. Despite Norway’s exit in the quarter-finals, they achieved their best-ever World Cup run, while England advanced to face Argentina in the semi-finals amidst ongoing discussions about the officiating.
