Football/Soccer 3 Days

Last updated: May 11, 2026, 11:30 PM ET

Premier League Title Race & VAR Chaos

Arsenal survived an incredible late VAR drama at the London Stadium, edging past West Ham 1-0 after Callum Wilson's 95th-minute leveller was disallowed for a foul on David Raya, moving Mikel Arteta's side to the brink of their first Premier League title in 22 years. The controversial decision, which involved four minutes and 11 seconds of intense review, has been labelled the most consequential VAR call in league history, prompting West Ham to plan lodging an official complaint with the referees' body, PGMOL, while manager David Moyes insisted officials "don't know what a foul is". Pundits like Jamie Carragher argued that only those opposed to Arsenal winning the title would dispute the call, even as Arteta praised the officials' "bravery" for making the tough decision.

The fallout from the weekend's officiating extended to Tottenham Hotspur, whose own fight for survival was prolonged after being pegged back by Leeds United in a tense 1-1 draw, leaving Roberto De Zerbi frustrated as his team hit the "self-destruct button again". De Zerbi directed criticism towards referee Jarred Gillett, claiming the official was "not calm" and felt the pressure following the preceding VAR controversy at West Ham. Tottenham’s draw leaves them just two points above the relegation zone with two fixtures remaining, though goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky provided a moment of redemption with what was described as "one of saves of the season" to salvage the point.

Championship Play-Off Drama

Hull City secured their passage to the Championship play-off final at Wembley after producing a clinical 2-0 second-leg performance against Millwall, leading manager Sergej Jakirovic to declare the achievement as "maybe the best thing that happened in football in my life". Winger Mohamed Belloumi became the hero, making up for a lack of match preparedness by creating the decisive moment to help the Tigers advance. Elsewhere in the play-offs, Salford City achieved a 2-1 comeback victory away at Grimsby in the League Two semi-final first leg, and Bolton took a narrow 1-0 advantage over Bradford thanks to a "brilliant strike" from Amario Cozier-Duberry.

Scottish Premiership Title Race Heats Up

Celtic dramatically tightened the reins on the Scottish Premiership title race by defeating Rangers 3-1 in the Old Firm derby, with Daizen Maeda netting one of the "great Old Firm goals", which moved them to within one point of leaders Hearts with only two games left. Manager Brendan Rodgers received praise, with one pundit suggesting O'Neill has made Celtic players better, while Rangers manager Danny Rohl faces pressure, with the Old Firm result potentially being seen as the team's only 'trophy' this season. Hearts fans celebrated their team's "intoxicating" title race performance after securing a point at Motherwell, ensuring both Hearts and Celtic have guaranteed themselves Champions League qualifier spots for next season.

International & Managerial Moves

Chelsea has initiated contact with several prospective permanent head coaches, reportedly including Andoni Iraola, Xabi Alonso, and Marco Silva, as the club moves towards appointing a successor, while reports suggest Jose Mourinho is increasingly likely to take the helm at Real Madrid. In international football, Dick Advocaat is potentially open to returning as Curacao boss after his successor, Fred Rutten, resigned only a month before their World Cup debut, and Iran's federation stated they "definitely" will participate in the 2026 World Cup, though they presented Fifa with 10 conditions regarding travel and security concerns. Meanwhile, Manchester United youngster Jacob Devaney is making an impact on loan at St Mirren in Scotland, impressing in the second half of the season.

Transfer Rumours & Player News

Speculation continues to surround several high-profile players, with three Premier League clubs reportedly targeting West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen, while Liverpool is monitoring Monaco duo Maghnes Akliouche and Lamine Camara, and Juventus is considering a loan approach for Manchester United's Nicolas Jackson. Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippier remains open-minded about his next career step as he focuses on finishing the season strongly, and Newcastle coach Eddie Howe confirmed Anthony Gordon's omission from the squad was a decision motivated by "looking at the future". On the emotional front, forward Beth Mead confirmed that her departure from Arsenal at the end of the season "breaks her heart".

Off-Field Issues & Athlete Wellness

Tottenham defender Kevin Danso stated he will not be defined by the racist abuse he received on social media, a sentiment echoed by Udinese striker Keinan Davis, who accused Cagliari defender Alberto Dossena of racist abuse during a Serie A match, prompting Udinese to demand action from Italian authorities. In player welfare news, Newcastle United defender Dan Burn shared that therapy has worked "quite well" for him, encouraging others struggling with mental health to seek assistance. The UK Anti-Doping agency issued a warning regarding worrying claims suggesting athletes are attempting to "short-cut" fitness levels.

Global Football & League Updates

Barcelona officially clinched the LaLiga title after defeating rivals Real Madrid 2-0, with Marcus Rashford opening the scoring via a brilliant free-kick, though Kylian Mbappé was ruled out of the fixture due to injury. Hansi Flick expressed gratitude for the support shown by his team and fans after he managed the title-clinching El Clasico despite the recent death of his father. In MLS, Lionel Messi masterminded Inter Miami's dominant 4-0 victory over Toronto, bouncing back strongly from a previous shock defeat. Elsewhere, Cesc Fabregas's Como side secured a spot in European competition next season following a 1-0 win over Hellas Verona.