Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: April 24, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Championship & EFL Promotion Battles

Hopes for automatic promotion suffered a blow as Millwall could only manage a late 1-1 draw against already-relegated Leicester at the King Power Stadium, although the result was enough to push them back into the top-two places temporarily. Meanwhile, in the EFL, West Bromwich Albion received an immediate two-point deduction for breaching financial rules, a penalty that immediately pulls them back into the relegation scrap, adding high stakes to the penultimate weekend of fixtures. Elsewhere, the battle at the bottom of the Championship saw Nottingham Forest deliver a stunning 5-0 dismantling of Sunderland, scoring four times in the first half alone, which propelled them eight points clear of the drop zone, leading to speculation that the relegation fight might now be concentrated between just two clubs following Forest's surge.

Scottish Premiership Title Race

The Scottish Premiership title race remains incredibly tight with only five games left, as three teams are currently separated by just three points heading into the final split weekend as the league divides. As the pressure mounts, Rangers manager Danny Rohl publicly stated his desire for captain James Tavernier to secure the league trophy as a "beautiful moment" to conclude his time at Ibrox. Concurrently, interim manager Martin O'Neill expressed satisfaction with recent contract extensions for key players like Luke McCowan and James Forrest, suggesting that any incoming permanent manager would be pleased to inherit the secured trio signing new deals. Furthermore, Rangers fans face potential ticket restrictions for the final Old Firm derby after Celtic declined to allocate away tickets amid an ongoing dispute regarding the Ibrox club's ultra groups.

Premier League Managerial & Disciplinary Updates

Managerial movements and disciplinary reviews dominated headlines outside the immediate match results, with reports suggesting Enzo Maresca is engaging in talks with Manchester City while Pep Guardiola has emerged as a candidate for the upcoming Italy national team job. Disciplinary matters saw the Premier League panel reject Manchester United’s appeal against Lisandro Martinez's red card, confirming that hair-pulling towards Dominic Calvert-Lewin warranted dismissal and "ought not to be tolerated." In a separate review, a panel determined that Sunderland's Brian Brobbey should have been sent off against Spurs following the commission of two bookable offenses during the match. On the personnel front, Eddie Howe confirmed he is eagerly anticipating discussions with the Newcastle United ownership next week to express his perspective.

Chelsea & Manchester United Player News

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes discussed his season in a wide-ranging interview, expressing surprise that the club currently sits in third place after what he termed a "big learning experience" since the campaign began. Meanwhile, United are hopeful midfielder Ella Toone, sidelined for four months, will be fit enough to return for Sunday's fixture against Tottenham as she trains this week. At Chelsea, interim coach Calum McFarlane reflected on his "whirlwind" ascent from relative obscurity to managing an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, a venue Pulis noted remains profoundly important for players and staff regardless of club size. Chelsea goalkeeper James Trafford also reflected on his season, calling the move to Manchester City "hasn't been the best possible outcome" and describing the year as a significant learning experience.

Rugby & Super League Dominance

In Rugby League, the Leeds Rhinos emphatically demolished Catalans Dragons 46-4 at Headingley, maintaining their position atop the Betfred Super League table, while Hull FC secured a high-scoring victory over Castleford in another fixture that saw high point totals. In Gallagher Premiership rugby, Bristol delivered a dominant 52-19 thumping of rock-bottom Newcastle Falcons, which propelled them above Exeter and secured a top-four playoff position. in Scottish rugby, the focus remains on which clubs will successfully avoid the relegation play-off spot, with Livingston facing the possibility of being relegated as early as this weekend depending on weekend results.

Other Sports Notes: Tennis, Golf, & Racing

In tennis, British player Cameron Norrie managed to battle past Tomas Machac in three sets to advance to the third round of the Madrid Open, though fellow countrywoman Katie Boulter exited the tournament after falling to fifth seed Jessica Pegula on the preceding day. In golf, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans saw the high-profile pairing of Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka miss the cut by a single stroke heading into the weekend rounds, while the Fitzpatrick brothers remained firmly in contention. Meanwhile, tennis suffered a major setback as defending French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to an ongoing wrist injury. Horse racing saw Opera Ballo achieve a front-running victory to secure the bet365 Mile at Sandown, while the impeccably-bred Raaheeb enhanced his Derby credentials with a stylish performance in the bet365 Classic Trial at the same venue.