
Kavanagh to referee Sheffield Utd-Sunderland play-off final
Premier League referee Chris Kavanagh will take charge of Saturday's Championship play-off final between Sheffield United and Sunderland.The 39-year-old started refereeing in the EFL in 2014 before stepping up to the Premier League in 2017.Saturday will be his second Championship final, having refereed the 2021 Wembley showpiece when Fulham beat Swansea City 2-0 and he sent off the Swans' Jay Fulton.Kavanagh was also in charge for last season's EFL Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool and has officiated in the Champions League, Europa League and Nations League.All three play-off finals this year will include the use of VAR, semi-automated offside technology and in-stadia announcements.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
25 minutes ago
- The Sun
Brentford next manager odds: New favourites revealed as Tottenham close in on Thomas Frank
JUSTIN COCHRANE is favourite for the Brentford job. That's according to the latest odds from talkSPORT BET, who've installed Cochrane at 4/7 to replace Thomas Frank at the Gtech Community Stadium. Frank, who took over at Brentford in 2018, looks increasingly likely to join Tottenham following their decision to sack Ange Postecoglou. The Dane, 51, guided Brentford into the Premier League, winning the Championship play-off final at Wembley in 2021. But reports suggest his seven-year stay is close to ending with Spurs set to make a formal approach in the coming days. Brentford would be entitled to compensation for Frank, with sources suggesting it will cost upwards of £10million to get him before his contract expires in 2027. With those inside Tottenham reportedly "positive" that a deal can be struck - Brentford will have to begin the task of searching for his replacement? But who are the leading candidates? talkSPORT BET have Cochrane as the early frontrunner at 4/7. Cochrane, 43, is currently an assistant coach at Brentford and was recently appointed to a dual role with England's senior men's team under Thomas Tuchel. A former player who retired in 2013, he began his coaching career at Tottenham, working with young talents like Noni Madueke and Kyle Walker-Peters. He later joined the FA, progressing from England U16s to U17s head coach. In 2021, he became Manchester United's head of player development, playing a key role in their FA Youth Cup win featuring future stars Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. Cochrane joined Brentford in 2022. Kieran McKenna is next in the betting markets at 7/2, with a big jump to third-favourite Danny Rohl at 8/1. Michael Carrick is priced at 12/1 followed by several high-profile bosses including the likes of Steven Gerrard, Sean Dyche, Edin Terzic, Marco Rose and Gary O'Neil. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – GambleAware – For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. *18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet up to £40 (min. £20) on any football market at odds of 2.00+, in 7 days. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. | Please gamble responsibly


The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
England vs Senegal prediction: Three Lions to end international break with a win
England vs Senegal betting tips England take on Senegal in a friendly at the City Ground on Tuesday, as Thomas Tuchel's side look to improve on a disappointing performance against Andorra last time out. The Three Lions' 1-0 win over the team ranked 173rd in the world provoked plenty of questions after an insipid display despite fielding a strong team, and Tuchel will be hoping for a statement win this week as his World Cup preparations continue. England face a Senegal side that drew with Republic of Ireland last week, with the Lions of Teranga well-placed in their own World Cup qualifying group while also preparing for the 2025/26 African Cup of Nations. And Pape Thiaw's side won't be an easy opponent for England, with several top quality players including Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gueye, Ismaila Sarr and Nicolas Jackson. Nevertheless, the Three Lions are the strong favourites, with football betting sites pricing them at 9/20 to win versus 10/3 for a draw and 6/1 for a Senegal victory. England vs Senegal betting tips A disappointing display from Thomas Tuchel's side at the weekend does not stop England being touted as heavy favourites for this one, with the Three Lions having won all of their last five matches with a combined aggregate score of 14-0. While it didn't quite click in attack against Andorra, Senegal are less likely to completely sit back than Andorra, with Tuchel expected to experiment again at the City Ground. As for Senegal, they have won just two of their last five matches – against Liberia and Togo – and drew 1-1 with Ireland last Friday, though they have kept clean sheets in three of their last five. Recent draws to Sudan, Liberia and Ireland show that the Lions of Teranga can be weak at the back at times though, and their attack may struggle against a more stern England defence. As such, we're going for England to win to nil, which is offered by most betting sites at around 11/8. England vs Senegal prediction Many were surprised when former Brentford striker Ivan Toney was called up to Thomas Tuchel's squad, with the 29-year-old having plied his trade with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli since last summer. However, the striker has impressed during his time abroad and certainly brings a different dimension to the England attack, as shown at various points including during Euro 2024. With Kane having scored against Andorra and this match being a friendly, Toney could well be given a chance to lead the line as he aims to play his way into Tuchel's thinking ahead of the World Cup next year. Toney has 23 goals in 30 appearances for Al-Ahli this term, including four goals in the final five matches of the season, and he ended the season as an AFC Champions League Elite winner too. As well as having hit some form in the final few matches of the season, he'll be desperate to impress England's new manager as he returns to the country, and we think he'll have ample opportunity to do so. With that in mind, a wager on Ivan Toney to score anytime could offer value at 23/20 with William Hill. William Hill Responsible gambling If you're having a bet on England vs Senegal, it's vital to practice responsible gambling. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies if you're using slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, betting apps, or any other gambling medium. Even the most knowledgeable punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses. It's particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino offers you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution. You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:


BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
Tony Hudgell 'over the moon' with shirt from David Beckham
A 10-year-old boy who had both legs amputated after being abused as a baby has been gifted a signed football shirt by David Hudgell was given an Inter Miami shirt from Beckham, who co-owns the US club, with Tony's mother Paula saying the England legend had been "quietly following his journey".Mrs Hudgell, from West Malling in Kent, said the gesture was "really lovely" and Tony was "absolutely blown away" having received the added: "There was a little card as well which said 'keep doing what you are doing'". Mrs Hudgell said Tony was "absolutely over the moon" and described Beckham as "such a lovely guy and really generous".The Tony Hudgell Foundation said on X the gift had come after a "tough week" where the parole board confirmed Tony's birth mother Jody Simpson would be released from prison. Simpson was given a 10 year prison sentence in 2018 alongside Anthony Smith having been found guilty of causing Tony's near-fatal pair were found to have hurt him so badly at six-weeks-old that his legs had to be was later adopted by Paula and Mark Hudgell and has since raised millions of pounds for charity and received the British Empire Medal for services to the prevention of child 2024, he underwent surgery to be fitted for new prosthetics to allow him to walk without who is also a co-owner of Salford City, is set to be knighted in King Charles' birthday honours.