Haaland Fumes Over 'Weak' Call as Norway Exit World Cup; Father Claims Officiating Cost Them Dear

England's passage to the World Cup semi-finals came at the expense of Norway, who fell 2-1 after extra-time in the quarter-finals—but the Scandinavians left the pitch convinced they'd been dealt a rough hand by the man in the middle.

The flashpoint came when Torbjorn Heggem's goal was chalked off following Haaland's challenge on Elliot Anderson during the corner routine that preceded it. The Manchester City striker, unsurprisingly, took umbrage.

"It feels a bit empty, to be honest," Haaland told TV 2 in the aftermath. "I felt we deserved more. I don't think it's a free kick."

He went on to gripe about the inconsistency of the decision-making: "It's been disallowed because I push Elliot Anderson to the ground, like I get pushed in every single duel. It's a bit bitter. Small moments decide things in the World Cup. Against Brazil we managed to turn it in our favour. Today when we get the 50/50 decisions against us it will be difficult."

Doubling down on his grievance, Haaland added: "So, if there is a free kick, I almost have to get a free kick in every duel – in every single match. Because I get pushed, I get pulled all the way, and I think it's weak."

His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, was equally unimpressed. Taking to X, the former Manchester City defender wrote: "Well done Bellingham and referee" before following up with: "Really? Saved by the referee. Hope you win the WC now. But feel we got robbed today."

Predictably, the complaints didn't sit well with everyone. Pundit Ian Wright waded in, suggesting the Haaland camp had a case of sour grapes. "Is that sour grapes from Alf-Inge Haaland, saying well done to Bellingham and the referee? I think that was just a bit of a low blow from him," Wright said.

On the disallowed goal itself, Wright was adamant: "He can't surely be referring to that because that was just a ridiculous push [from Haaland]. In that particular moment, he's like six or seven inches taller, why does he need to be that aggressive with him? It's a massive foul. You can't be talking that."

Roy Keane, meanwhile, took a more measured stance whilst managing a dig at Alf-Inge's match-day habits. "Will he remember the game? Because he always seems to be drinking alcohol at the matches, the dad," Keane joked. "No, he does! If you're having a drink then you're seeing the game differently."

The former Manchester United captain acknowledged the emotional nature of post-match interviews before delivering his verdict: "Families and fans after games, we saw the interviews with the England manager, Bellingham, family members, they're all a bit emotional so you try and give them the benefit of the doubt. But when people wake up tomorrow morning, you won't be sitting there going, 'The referee's cost us', you can't. You can argue a couple of decisions but you can't say, 'He's cost us', no."