The World Cup already has its four semifinalists. France and Spain were the first to confirm their place among the top four, and last night it was the turn for the other two: England and Argentina, who sealed their qualification in two matches marked by refereeing controversy. Switzerland is outraged by Embolo’s expulsion, who saw the second yellow card for diving in the middle of the field; while in Norway they denounce the strangest play of the tournament. On Nylland’s goal kick, the ball strangely changes trajectory, it seems to touch the aerial camera, and seconds later the play ends with a goal by Bellingham, who put it on the scoreboard.
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The last quarter-final matches were not free from scandal and Switzerland and Norway have shown their displeasure over plays that could have changed the fate of their teams. The first to play were England and Norway. The Nordic team took the lead first with a goal from Schejelderup, but Bellingham equalized in added time of the first half with a great goal preceded by a very strange play. The ball seems to change its trajectory in the air after the goal kick, it seems to touch the cable of the so-called ‘spider cam’, the aerial camera. The play was heavily protested by the Norwegians because seconds later, the Real Madrid forward scored the 1-1 before halftime.
The controversy broke out on the field and on social media, as it seems obvious that something happens with the ball to change its trajectory. FIFA hurried to issue a brief statement justifying the action: “Before England’s goal at 45+2 against Norway, the ball sensor showed no spike in the ‘ball heartbeat’ while it was in the air, so there is no evidence that the ball touched the cable and changed the ball’s movement.
“The ball fell straight from the sky and I think it did touch it. It falls vertically, it is clear that it did hit the cable. Something very strange,” denounced Norway coach Stale Solbakken, who showed resignation over the refereeing decision: “What can I say against FIFA’s statement if they indicate there is no internal signal? But the ball falls from the sky.” “There are things that have happened today that are a bit strange, but that is also part of football,” concluded the Norwegian coach.
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“We were punished by a rule that is unacceptable,” denounces Switzerland
Switzerland also left the World Cup frustrated by the refereeing. “We were punished by a rule that is unacceptable. I don’t understand it. The fact that they intervened unnecessarily is extremely painful. It is a rule that has nothing to do with football,” denounced Murat Yakin, coach of the Swiss team. The controversial play was the expulsion of Breel Embolo after seeing the second yellow for simulating a foul in the 72nd minute. Switzerland had just equalized the match against Argentina and was in the best moment of the game, pressing the Albiceleste, when VAR intervened to re-referee a foul called on Leandro Paredes. The referee showed the yellow card to the Argentine but, after an eternal review, ended up interpreting that there was no foul and that Embolo had dived, so he saw the second yellow and was sent off.
“There was definitely no reason to show a yellow card,” said Yakin. “It was a harmless situation. He should have let the game continue,” he commented about the foul located in the middle of the field, dangerous to no one. “It destroyed our game today. We have to accept it, but it is painful to lose that way,” lamented the coach who saw a brave Switzerland, which resisted until the 112th minute, fail to make history by reaching the semifinals for the first time.
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