World Cup: Your Son’s Mistake Cost Norway Defeat — Ian Wright Tells Haaland’s Father

Ian Wright has criticised Erling Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, insisting the striker’s foul, not poor refereeing, cost Norway their World Cup quarter-final defeat to England.

England legend Ian Wright has criticised Alf-Inge Haaland after the former Norway international suggested the referee influenced England’s 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Alf-Inge Haaland, father of Norway striker Erling Haaland, had questioned the officiating after the match, claiming England benefited from the referee’s decisions.

Norway had taken the lead through Andreas Schjelderup in the 36th minute before Jude Bellingham equalised just before half-time. The Real Madrid midfielder completed his brace in extra time to send England into the semi-finals.

The encounter featured two contentious moments. Norway argued that the ball struck a Spidercam wire before Bellingham’s equaliser, while Torbjorn Heggem’s second-half goal was ruled out after Erling Haaland was adjudged to have pushed England’s Elliot Anderson during the build-up.

Reacting after the game, Alf-Inge Haaland wrote on X, “Well done Bellingham and referee.”

Responding to another post praising Bellingham’s performance, he added, “Really? Saved by the referee. Hope you win the WC now. But feel we got robbed today.”

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Wright rejected those claims, insisting the disallowed goal resulted from Haaland’s own foul.

“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.

“He can’t surely be referring to that because that was just a ridiculous push. 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.”

England will now face Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals after eliminating Norway.