Summary：Norway furious after England goal, Haaland's father slams FIFA response **Introduction** On Saturd

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Norway furious after England goal, Haaland's father slams FIFA response

**Introduction**
On Saturday, 11 November, England edged Norway 2‑1 in extra time to book a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals. The victory, secured by a late header from Harry Kane, sparked immediate outrage among Norwegian players and officials, who claim the decisive goal resulted from a clear handball that went unnoticed by the match officials. The controversy intensified when Alf-Inge Haaland, father of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, took to social media to denounce FIFA’s handling of the incident, calling the governing body’s response “inadequate and dismissive.”

**Key Developments**
The match began with Norway taking an early lead through a swift counter‑attack finished by Alexander Sørloth. England equalised before halftime with a penalty converted by Bukayo Saka after a questionable foul in the box. The second half saw both sides trade chances, but neither could break the deadlock, forcing the contest into extra time. In the 108th minute, Kane rose to meet a corner and directed the ball into the net. Replays showed Kane’s left arm making contact with the ball before the header, a detail missed by the on‑field referee and the VAR team. Norwegian captain Martin Ødegaard protested vehemently, receiving a yellow card for dissent. After the final whistle, the Norwegian Football Federation filed an official protest, requesting a review of the goal and potential disciplinary action against the match officials.

**Industry Analysis**
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the consistency and transparency of VAR implementation in high‑stakes tournaments. While FIFA introduced VAR to reduce clear‑and‑obvious errors, critics argue that its application remains uneven, particularly in subjective situations like handball decisions. Sports law experts note that a successful protest could set a precedent for future challenges, potentially prompting FIFA to refine its protocols or increase referee