Sport

Football Focus cancelled by the BBC after more than half a century

End of an era.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 24th April 2026

In a fairly big bit of British broadcasting news, Football Focus is ending after more than half a century on our screens.

Announced on Thursday, 23 April, the once flagship show and weekly TV guide staple for countless domestic households is set to be cancelled after 52 seasons' worth of coverage.

With BBC Sport confirming the tough decision in a lengthy statement, the long-running show will be taken off the air at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

Most programmes like these have seen declining audiences across the board in the era of streaming and digital packages across various platforms, but this is truly the end of an era.

An official social media post reads: "An incredible 52-year journey comes to an end.⁣ Following extensive consideration, BBC Sport has made the difficult decision to say goodbye to Football Focus at the end of this season. ⁣
⁣
"First broadcast in 1974, Football Focus is a testament to the brilliant team who have worked on it over the years and, of course, the audience. The programme has been a staple of the BBC’s football coverage for decades, providing fans with interviews, analysis and stories from across the game ahead of the weekend’s fixtures.

"But changing audience behaviours means fans are now increasingly consuming football content in different ways, and we need to respond appropriately as we face difficult decisions around how the licence fee is spent.⁣"

Second only really to Match of the Day (MotD), which first began a whole decade prior to its once equally popular spin-off, Gary Lineker, Manish Bhasin, Alex Scott and others have all enjoyed varying periods hosting the regular weekend watch.

While even MotD has seen steadily dipping viewing figures, not just following the Lineker departure/saga, but ever since YouTube highlights and the social media era.

They go on to add: "Fans are accessing discussion, highlights, analysis and news through digital platforms and on-demand viewing, and as viewing habits continue to evolve, it is right that BBC Sport adapts how it brings football coverage to the widest audiences across television, radio, online and to its extensive social platforms.
⁣
BBC Sport boasts a strong football rights portfolio and is set to significantly expand its digital output this year, growing content across BBC platforms, as well as a bold new slate of exclusive shows on YouTube.

"Featuring fresh formats, big personalities and more frequent, always-on content tailored for digital audiences, the expansion will bring fans closer to the game than ever before, delivering more high-quality, accessible and engaging football coverage at scale. We will release further details on these plans in the coming months."

Will you miss it? Perhaps more to the point, do you still watch Match of the Day, Soccer Saturday and the like on terrestrial telly here in the UK?

Read more:

Featured Images - BBC

Sport

Andy Burnham says he wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Andy Burnham has said that he wants to scrap the 'unfair' ban on fans getting to drink alcohol in football stands.

It's a ban that's been in place in the top five tiers of men's football since 1985, when fears over violence and hooliganism were at their height, but now the Prime Minister has raised the question of whether drinking in football stands - or 'drinking in sight / view of the pitch', as it's known formally - is actually unjust, due to the fact that same rules don't apply to fans of other sports.

"I don't think it's fair for football fans to be singled out in that way," Andy Burnham has declared this week, grabbing headlines in the process.

He continued: "I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different, and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.

"I'm not going to back away from what's been a long-held view of mine. I don't see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently."

The Prime Minister's comments have been met with mixed response.

Andy Burnham wants to scrap the 'unfair' ban on drinking alcohol in football stands / Credit: James Kirkup | Julia Nastogadka (via Unsplash)

The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), for example, has very much welcomed the idea, saying that it 'totally agrees' the legislation is 'outdated' and 'deserves to be reviewed'.

Tom Greatrex, chair of the FSA, said in a statement: "The FSA has always argued that it’s unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match - especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league."

However, on the flip side, the UK Football Policing Unit said it would be 'incredibly rash' to change the rules without proper consultation.

"Other sports simply don't see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour," it said in a statement on the matter.

The Prime Minister did state in his initial proposition though that 'there are different ways it could be done', hinting that it could be done 'on a trial basis' perhaps.

The English Football League (EFL) added that it would be 'receptive to discussions around reviewing current legislation and permitting alcoholic drinks within view of the pitch'.

No formal details on a review have been confirmed as of yet, so fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates in due course.

Featured Image - Pexels

Sport

Kevin Sinfield will return to Leeds for his final 7 in 7 challenge in honour of Rob Burrow

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Leeds legend Kevin Sinfield is set to take on his seventh and final 7 in 7 challenge this month.

The former Leeds Rhinos captain will begin 7 in 7: The Grand Finale next Sunday 27 September.

Wondering what on earth that is? Allow us to fill you in.

Sinfield will be running an ultra-marathon every day for seven days, and this time it's across the north of England including a special stop off right here in Leeds.

Not only that, but the challenge will bring Sinfield back to some of the places that have played a huge part in his rugby league career.

The route will visit all 12 English Betfred Super League grounds, starting at Hull KR before travelling through Yorkshire and eventually crossing the Pennines towards Manchester where Sinfield is from.

Here in Leeds, we can expect Sinfield to arrive at Headingley Stadium on Wednesday 30 September at 11:14am, before leaving towards Pudsey Civic Hall at 11:40am.

The challenge will then finish at Old Trafford on Saturday 3 October, where Sinfield will arrive ahead of the Super League Grand Final.

Since the first annual challenge back in 2020, Kevin Sinfield and his team have raised over £11 million for the MND community with six charities set to benefit once again from this years fundraising.

It's an amazing challenge for an amazing cause, and you can donate and find out more about the challenge here.

Good luck Kevin and the team, we know you'll smash it.

Read more from The Hoot Leeds:

Featured image - Supplied (Leeds Rhinos Press)

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