Jude Bellingham's England goal should have been disallowed and given as a drop ball after bizarre incident leading to protest from Norway

England vs Norway saw an eventful first half of football, in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

Norway almost opened the scoring shortly after the Three Lions' back-line almost allowed Haaland in on goal, thanks to a John Stones error.

They broke through via an astonishing finish from Andreas Schjelderup, whose cross translated into a top-bins goal.

Jude Bellingham's goal for England should have been chalked off and given as a drop ball, leading to protest from Norway's Erling Haaland at the 2026 World Cup

Jude Bellingham levelled the score for England with a wonderful strike shortly before half-time.

Prior to that goal, the Three Lions almost went down by two, with Alexander Sorloth failing to convert from a two-on-one counter.

Bizarrely, England's goal should have been ruled out due to a goal kick from Orjan Nyland in the build-up hitting the overhead TV cable.

The protocol in this scenario is for the game to be halted, and for a drop ball to occur.

Instead, the goal kick led to possession being claimed by the Three Lions, who surged up the pitch.

At the end of the move was Bellingham, who calmly slotted his finish past Norway's goalkeeper.

Erling Haaland led vocal protests directed at the referee due to the ball striking the cable, but it was not ruled out.

Via Fox Sports coverage, former referee Mark Clattenburg said that any instance of the ball touching the TV cable should result in the match being halted.

As relayed by Rebecca Lowe, Clattenburg said: "If the ball touches any outside object, then the whistle should go, and it should be a drop ball."

The former referee then spoke himself: "Some will ask, why does the VAR not interfere?

"They can interfere, if that contact is part of a reviewable incident."

He concluded: "An attacking phase of play leading to a goal is a part of VAR's reviewable incidents, so it should have been picked up by VAR."

England were also the beneficiaries of a Norway goal being chalked off in the second half.

Haaland was deemed to have shoved future Manchester City team-mate Elliot Anderson in the build-up to a set piece goal from the Norwegians.

The Three Lions will look to continue fighting as they aim to secure a spot in the last four of the 2026 World Cup.