Opinion
Long-form comment and column-style writing from our editors. Not the hot-take stuff.
Ken Bates obituary: The £1 gamble that changed Chelsea forever
Ken Bates, who has died aged 94, bought Chelsea for £1 in 1982 and spent two decades turning a club on the brink of bankruptcy into a major European force.
By Tom Ellis · 11 Jul 2026OpinionRoss County, East Kilbride & Scottish League Two Chaos Previewed
With the Scottish lower-league season on the horizon, Ross County's promotion push, East Kilbride's debut SPFL campaign and a packed League Two are all under the spotlight.
By Marcus Hopkins · 10 Jul 2026OpinionInquest Ordered into Nobby Stiles' Death After CTE Finding
A Greater Manchester coroner has ruled that a full inquest must be held into the death of 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles after experts found evidence of traumatic brain injury.
By Sarah Akande · 10 Jul 2026OpinionMatch-Fixing Now Reaching Chess and Darts, Lords Committee Warned
A House of Lords committee heard evidence that match-fixing has spread far beyond football, with organised crime networks now targeting sports including darts and chess.
By Tom Ellis · 10 Jul 2026OpinionScottish League Cup: Four Premiership Sides Begin Their Campaigns
St Mirren, Dundee, Dundee United and Falkirk all open their Scottish League Cup group-stage campaigns this Saturday as competitive football returns to Scotland.
By Marcus Hopkins · 6 Jul 2026OpinionRooney admits managerial regrets and doubts he will return to dugout
Wayne Rooney says he carries regrets from his time in management and currently cannot see himself taking on another job as a football manager.
By Sarah Akande · 22 Jun 2026
OpinionHow Athletes Are Learning to Live With Social Media Abuse
From death threats to daily harassment, athletes across British sport are speaking out about online abuse and the quiet toll it takes on performance and mental health.
By James Wright · 15 Jun 2026OpinionOff the Ball Returns With Lambert and Higgins for June Edition
BBC Radio Scotland's long-running football show Off the Ball aired its 13 June 2026 edition featuring former Wolves and Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert among its guests.
By Tom Ellis · 13 Jun 2026OpinionPlatini launches legal action against Fifa and Infantino
Michel Platini has filed criminal and civil proceedings in French courts against Fifa and president Gianni Infantino over the 2015 corruption allegations he says ended his bid to lead world football.
By Tom Ellis · 9 Jun 2026OpinionOff the Ball Returns With Grant Stott and JJ Bull
BBC Radio Scotland's self-proclaimed 'most petty and ill-informed football show' is back with a fresh episode featuring guests Grant Stott and JJ Bull.
By Tom Ellis · 6 Jun 2026
OpinionLigue 1 2025-26 Season Review: Vitinha Shines, Lens Make History
From Vitinha's brilliance at PSG to Lens lifting the Coupe de France, the 2025-26 Ligue 1 campaign delivered memorable moments alongside notable disappointments.
By James Wright · 2 Jun 2026
OpinionSir Kenny Dalglish Confirms Cancer Diagnosis at Age 75
Scottish football legend Sir Kenny Dalglish has confirmed he is undergoing cancer treatment after inadvertently revealing the news via a social media post.
By Tom Ellis · 2 Jun 2026OpinionOff the Ball: Scottish Football's Most Gloriously Petty Radio Show
BBC Radio Scotland's Off the Ball has built a loyal following by taking a deliberately irreverent, self-described 'ill-informed' look at the Scottish game every week.
By Tom Ellis · 30 May 2026OpinionPeter Shilton Launches Gambling Charity After 45-Year Addiction
England's most-capped footballer Peter Shilton has revealed his fear of press exposure stopped him seeking help for a gambling addiction that cost him over £1m.
By Priya Patel · 30 May 2026OpinionPeter Shilton: Fame Made It Harder to Seek Gambling Help
England's record cap-holder Peter Shilton has revealed he feared press exposure stopped him seeking help during a 45-year gambling addiction that cost him over £1 million.
By Priya Patel · 30 May 2026OpinionSerie A 2025-26 Review: Inter's Double, Como's Rise and Italy's Woes
Inter Milan claimed their first domestic double since 2010 under Cristian Chivu, while Como reached the Champions League for the first time in a turbulent Serie A season.
By Priya Patel · 28 May 2026OpinionDeco: Barcelona's Back-to-Back Titles Are Just the Beginning
Sporting director Deco believes Barcelona's consecutive La Liga titles mark only the opening chapter for a young squad built largely on La Masia graduates.
By James Wright · 27 May 2026
OpinionFootball Focus Signs Off: A Nation's Favourite Football Show Bows Out
BBC One's Football Focus broadcasts its final episode, with hosts and pundits sharing decades of cherished memories from one of British football's most beloved programmes.
By Priya Patel · 24 May 2026
OpinionFootball Focus Signs Off After 52 Years on BBC One
Alex Scott presented the final edition of Football Focus on BBC One, bringing down the curtain on one of British football broadcasting's longest-running programmes.
By Tom Ellis · 24 May 2026OpinionOff the Ball: Scottish Football's Best Worst Radio Show Returns
BBC Radio Scotland's Off the Ball remains the most gleefully irreverent football programme on the airwaves, blending sharp wit with genuine Scottish football knowledge.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026OpinionOff the Ball: Scottish Football's Beloved Petty Radio Institution
BBC Radio Scotland's Off the Ball has built a cult following by doing Scottish football its own irreverent way — and a new episode is available now on BBC Sounds.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026
OpinionAuckland FC Win Historic A-League Men Title With 1-0 Victory Over Sydney
Auckland FC claimed their first A-League Men championship on Saturday night, defeating Sydney FC 1-0 through Cameron Howieson's 60th-minute goal in front of a record crowd.
By James Wright · 23 May 2026OpinionOff the Ball: Scotland's Gloriously Petty Radio Institution
BBC Radio Scotland's Off the Ball has built a loyal following by being proudly 'petty and ill-informed' — and Scottish football is all the richer for it.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026OpinionScottish Cup Final 2025: Celtic v Dunfermline Preview
Celtic chase an unlikely double under Martin O'Neill while Championship Dunfermline aim to end a 58-year wait for Scottish Cup glory at Hampden.
By Marcus Hopkins · 22 May 2026
OpinionLennon: 'Underdogs bite' – Dunfermline warn Celtic before Scottish Cup final
Neil Lennon insists Dunfermline Athletic are no day-trippers as his Championship side prepare to face Celtic in Saturday's Scottish Cup final at Hampden.
By Marcus Hopkins · 22 May 2026
OpinionLennon's Dunfermline Aim Scottish Cup Shock Against Celtic
Neil Lennon insists Dunfermline are no day-trippers at Hampden, warning Celtic that underdogs bite as his Championship side target a famous Scottish Cup upset.
By Marcus Hopkins · 22 May 2026
OpinionLennon: 'Underdogs bite' as Dunfermline target Scottish Cup shock
Neil Lennon says critics have been 'disrespectful' to his Championship side and warns Celtic that Dunfermline will arrive at Hampden with genuine belief on Saturday.
By Tom Ellis · 22 May 2026
OpinionFootball Focus ends after 52 years: the moments that defined it
The BBC's Football Focus broadcasts its final episode this Sunday after 52 years on air, with fans voting on which iconic moment gets one last airing.
By Tom Ellis · 21 May 2026
OpinionWho Has Won the Most League Titles Without an International Cap?
From Steve Bruce's three Premier League titles to Chris Marriott's remarkable 12 Welsh top-flight medals, we explore the uncapped kings of domestic football.
By Sarah Akande · 20 May 2026
OpinionPFA Charity Seriously Mismanaged Funds, Charity Commission Finds
A damning Charity Commission inquiry has found serious mismanagement and conflicts of interest at the PFA's charitable arm, putting funds meant to help players at risk.
By Priya Patel · 19 May 2026