Football/Soccer 24 Hours

Last updated: May 11, 2026, 2:30 AM ET

Premier League Title Race & VAR Controversy

Arsenal closed in on their first Premier League title in 22 years after surviving an extraordinary late VAR drama to defeat West Ham United 1-0, with Leandro Trossard scoring the winner on Sunday afternoon. The match included four chaotic minutes where a dramatic late Callum Wilson equaliser for West Ham was ultimately disallowed following a lengthy review for a foul on David Raya, a decision Rooney praised as "really good" work by the video assistant referee. Manager Mikel Arteta commended the officials' bravery for sticking by the decision, although this ruling prompted reports that West Ham are preparing to lodge an official complaint with the PGMOL over the consequential call which may define the season. Pundits like Danny Murphy credited Arteta's late tactical gambles for securing the necessary victory, while pundits like Keane and Wright also weighed in on the disallowed goal after the fact.

European Football Title Races & Managerial News

In Spain, Marcus Rashford's brilliance, featuring a stunning free-kick opener, propelled Barcelona to a LaLiga title-clinching victory over bitter rivals Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou, marking their second straight league success and making history against Madrid. Barcelona achieved this feat despite Real Madrid being without the injured Kylian Mbappé, though former president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed the club once had an agreement in principle to sign Vinícius Júnior before he joined Real in a past negotiation. Meanwhile, in Italy, Cesc Fabregas’s Como side secured a European football spot for next season following a 1-0 defeat of Hellas Verona, who might lose striker Kieron Bowie to Bologna according to reports. On the managerial front, Hansi Flick thanked the Barcelona team and supporters for their backing after taking charge for El Clasico immediately following the death of his father.

Scottish Premiership & English Lower Leagues

The Scottish Premiership title race tightened considerably after Celtic defeated Rangers 3-1 in the Old Firm derby, sealed by a Daizen Maeda stunner, bringing them within one point of leaders Hearts with only two games remaining. This result also guaranteed that both Celtic and Hearts will compete in the Champions League qualifiers next season, marking the first time in 20 years that Hearts will feature. Elsewhere in England, League Two play-off semi-finals saw Salford City rally to secure a 2-1 first-leg win at Grimsby after falling behind early, while Notts County edged Chesterfield 1-0 in their corresponding tie, though Chesterfield were left regretting an early penalty miss.

Women's Football & Transfer Rumours

Manchester City Women booked their place in the FA Cup final after Khadija Shaw shrugged off transfer speculation to lead a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down to defeat holders Chelsea 3-2 in extra time at the semi-final stage. City will now face Brighton & Hove Albion, who reached their first-ever major final after overcoming Liverpool, making this run feel like an inevitable milestone. In transfer gossip, Everton are reportedly in talks to secure the return of defender John Stones, while Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe confirmed that leaving Anthony Gordon on the bench for consecutive matches reflects his focus on planning for the future, and Kieran Trippier remains open-minded about his Newcastle exit as the season concludes.

Player Resilience & Off-Field Issues

Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Danso stated publicly that he refuses to allow racist abuse directed at him on social media to dictate his career trajectory insisting he will not be defined by it. This echoes the character shown by Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, who scored a vital equaliser against Newcastle despite enduring a significant personal loss. In contrast to the off-field challenges, there was a sobering reminder of past trauma as former player Alex Batty recounted his story of vanishing at age 11 and spending six years away from home before finally telling his tale.

Golf & Combat Sports Updates

The men’s major golf season continued with extended coverage of the PGA Championship from Aronimink Golf Club, broadcast exclusively on Sky Sports, as Rory McIlroy expressed confidence that a recent range session has straightened out his swing following a similar boost at The Masters. On the PGA Tour, Kristoffer Reitan claimed his maiden victory at the Truist Championship in South Carolina, finishing two shots ahead of Rickie Fowler and Nicolai Højgaard who both faded late, while Matt Fitzpatrick expressed disappointment after a near-miss at the same event earlier in the week. In combat sports, Tyson Fury mocked Anthony Joshua following his knockout defeat, suggesting that Daniel Dubois managed to put Joshua on the canvas four times, which prompted Wardley’s trainer to explain his decision not to stop the fight during the punishing loss to Dubois.