Alf-Inge Haaland blasts referee: 'Today, it's the referee who won'

Norway struggled to come to terms with the outcome of a tense and bitterly contested encounter on Saturday evening. Despite dominating play, the Vikings were caught late in the match, losing 1–2 after extra time to England in the World Cup quarter-finals. The result was overshadowed by controversy surrounding the officiating of French referee Clément Turpin.

Haaland Senior Voices Frustration

"Today, the referee won. That's how I feel," said Alf-Inge Haaland, father of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, speaking to DAZN's microphone. "Usually, I don't like talking about referees after a match, but when so many key moments go against one team, it's impossible to ignore."

He pointed to specific incidents, adding: "We saw Torbjorn Heggem's disallowed goal, we saw controversial decisions throughout the match, and every important decision seemed to favor England. At this level, those are the moments that change the course of a match."

Pride Amid Disappointment

Despite the heartbreak, the former Norway international (34 caps) expressed pride in his son and his teammates. "I am incredibly proud of Norway, because they never stopped fighting," Haaland said. "They played with courage, discipline, and conviction against one of the strongest teams in the tournament."

The 53-year-old former player was particularly struck by England's first goal, scored before halftime, which he considered highly disputed. Concluding his remarks, he stated: "Tonight, I leave with the feeling that it wasn't just football that had the greatest influence on the match."