Football/Soccer 24-Hour Briefing
×Premier League & Championship
Nottingham Forest bbc.com has asked global head of football Edu to stay away from the training ground. Middlesbrough bbc.com head coach Kim Hellberg discusses his journey from PE teacher to Premier League boss. Norwich bbc.com assistant sporting director Neil Adams will leave the club as head of recruitment Lee Dunn is promoted. Forest Green Rovers bbc.com defender Jili Buyabu returned to help his side's promotion push just two days after delivering his own baby.
Scottish Football
Dundee United bbc.com striker Johnny Russell says his return "just felt right" as he aims to make his mark in the Scottish Cup. Former Celtic forward and boss Kenny Dalglish and ex-Rangers winger Peter Lovenkrands preview Sunday's Old Firm Scottish Cup quarter-final. Celtic skysports.com moved up to second in the Premiership with a 2-1 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Celtic bbc.com relied on big moments from key players to secure the crucial Pittodrie win. Celtic bbc.com defender Murray is a doubt for the cup tie as Hearts set for a £2m fee for a teenager.
Match Reactions & Analysis
Fabian Hurzeler skysports.com criticised Arsenal's time-wasting tactics, with the numbers revealing surprising insights. Fabian Hurzeler skysports.com said "only one team tried to play football" in Brighton's 1-0 loss to Arsenal, accusing the Gunners of "making their own rules." Match of the Day pundits Micah Richards and Danny Murphy debated whether Newcastle's Jacob Ramsey deserved his second yellow card for diving. Richards and Murphy also discussed if Matz Sels' collision with Erling Haaland should have resulted in a penalty for Manchester City.
Manager Reactions
Michael Carrick bbc.com says defeat to 10-man Newcastle "hurts a lot" and he is "bitterly disappointed" after the 2-1 loss at St James' Park. Marco Silva bbc.com criticised the referee and VAR, saying decisions impacted their match as they were beaten 1-0 at home by strugglers West Ham. Nuno Espirito Santo bbc.com says his team "must keep going" but he "could not be happier" as his side beat Fulham to earn a vital win. Eddie Howe bbc.com is ecstatic with his side's late winner against Manchester United, calling Jacob Ramsey's red card "really harsh." Vitor Pereira bbc.com says he is "very proud" of his side's fight back as they came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Manchester City. Unai Emery bbc.com admits his side have plenty of work to do after losing 4-1 at home to Chelsea.
Player Performances
Crysencio Summerville is finding form at the right time for West Ham and might yet prove the man to save them from relegation. Summerville bbc.com scored the only goal of the game as West Ham boosted their survival hopes with a hard-fought win against Fulham. William Osula bbc.com won a Manchester United skills contest at age 11 and more than a decade later scored Newcastle's winner against United. Osula espn.com stayed for extra training ahead of facing Manchester United, perfecting the finish that secured a box office victory. Osula skysports.com struck late as 10-man Newcastle inflicted Carrick's first Manchester United defeat.
Chelsea & Striker Analysis
Chelsea skysports.com came from behind to dismantle Aston Villa 4-1 at Villa Park, with Joao Pedro scoring a hat-trick. Joao Pedro bbc.com is filling Diego Costa's shoes at Chelsea, showing he could lead the line in the way Costa did during the 2016-17 title-winning season. Match of the Day pundits Micah Richards and Danny Murphy discussed how Chelsea striker Joao Pedro uses his movement to cause problems for defenders.
International Football
Wales bbc.com will welcome World Cup-bound Ghana to Cardiff City Stadium for a friendly in June. The 2026 edition espn.com of Leagues Cup will see Liga MX teams host phase one matches for the first time since the intraleague tournament debuted the modern format. FIFA representatives espn.com met with Mexican authorities to assess security for World Cup matches in Mexico. The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations bbc.com is postponed just 12 days before the finals were due to kick off in Morocco.
Women's Football
The United States beat Canada 1-0 in the She Believes Cup, with Ally Sentnor espn.com scoring in the 55th minute. Emma Hayes espn.com vision for the 2027 World Cup is becoming clear as the USWNT's identity emerges. Arsenal bbc.com and England forward Chloe Kelly is transformed into a Barbie doll as part of a special series for International Women's Day.
Youth & Development
Liverpool espn.com youth goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek has moved to MLS side FC Cincinnati on loan for the 2026 season. BBC Sport charts the rise of exciting young forward Mateus Mane – from his childhood in Portugal to moving to Manchester and now making waves with Wolves.
Other Football News
Forest Green Rovers bbc.com defender Jili Buyabu returned to help his side's promotion push just two days after delivering his own baby. Celta Vigo espn.com have called on Madonna and their club fans to help them end their 36-year search to find the team jersey that the US global icon wore during her concert at their Balaidos stadium. The EFL skysports.com clubs have voted to extend the Championship play-offs from four teams to six from next season. BBC Sport bbc.com gets the views of Championship managers as the EFL announces the play-off places will be extended to eighth from next season.
Former Players & Retirements
Gareth Bale bbc.com has revealed he carried a secret injury throughout his career, with the problem eventually leading to his early retirement at just. Bale espn.com has revealed that Manchester United came in with a higher offer for him than Real Madrid while he was at Tottenham, but said his heart was set on a move to the LaLiga giants.
Controversies & Incidents
A goalkeeper was taken to hospital and a German soccer game was suspended for around 40 minutes after a firecracker thrown from the stands exploded near him. Former Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg skysports.com has been stripped of his MBE by King Charles after pleading guilty to domestic abuse against his then-estranged wife.
BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton bbc.com takes on Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight plus BBC readers and AI with his predictions for this weekend's FA Cup fifth-round ties. Phil Parkinson espn.com wants to draw on Wrexham's FA Cup history as well as his own when they face Chelsea in the fifth round on Saturday. Wrexham espn.com want Andy Robertson if they seal a place in the Premier League.