Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: May 1, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

European Football Knockouts & Managerial Moves

The European semi-finals saw mixed results, with Crystal Palace securing a 3-1 home advantage over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa Conference League first leg, while in the Europa League, Nottingham Forest edged Aston Villa 1-0 via a contentious penalty from Chris Wood, a striker who reportedly has not missed a spot-kick in a decade. Villa coach Unai Emery expressed fury over VAR decisions after an incident involving Elliot Anderson avoided a sending-off, which he deemed a "huge mistake" following the defeat. Elsewhere, Arsenal battled fatigue after tactical changes by Diego Simeone disrupted their flow in their tie against Atletico Madrid.

The managerial carousel continues spinning, as former Manchester United captain Michael Carrick emerges as a favorite for the Old Trafford post amid links to current Burnley manager Vincent Kompany's assistant, while Chelsea’s former manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted sadness seeing his old club Tottenham Hotspur battling relegation struggles, which he found "difficult to accept". In the lower leagues, Scott Parker departed Burnley immediately following their Premier League relegation, and Coventry City boss Frank Lampard's future hinges on ongoing discussions with the Championship side.

Premier League & Domestic Player News

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo committed his future to the club, signing an extension that keeps him at Old Trafford until 2031, as teammate Mason Mount expressed strong belief that the squad possesses the necessary quality to challenge for the Premier League title next season. Meanwhile, veteran Ashley Young confirmed his retirement at age 40 after concluding his playing days at Ipswich, and Manchester City's Laura Coombs announced her intention to retire at the end of the current campaign. On the transfer rumour mill, Everton are reportedly reviving interest in Liam Delap while also considering a quartet of targets, and former England captain Millie Bright spoke candidly about abuse following her recent retirement announcement.

Scottish & English Lower League Drama

The final stages of the season are proving intense across the UK’s leagues, especially in Scotland where only four points separate the top three—Hearts, Celtic, and Rangers—with four fixtures remaining in the Premiership title race. In the English Football League, final-day drama is set for the Championship as teams battle for automatic promotion spots and play-off qualification, similar high stakes exist in League One for promotion and survival, and League Two faces decisive outcomes for the play-offs and relegation. In the women’s game, Leicester City Women face a relegation play-off against the third-place finisher from WSL 2 to determine their top-flight status.

Rugby League & Other Sports Developments

Shifting focus to Rugby League, the defending champions Hull KR delivered a 50-6 demolition of Castleford Tigers, running in nine tries to ascend to third place in the Betfred Super League standings. In other sports news, boxing pundit Shane McGuigan warned that Anthony Joshua’s planned warm-up bout before facing Tyson Fury could potentially expose weaknesses and "showcase a lot of cracks", while Fury himself might also take an interim fight before the main event. In horse racing, Bob Olinger concluded his distinguished career with a victory in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown.