ON THIS DAY

If ever there was to be a prize for the most famous footballing foul I've got a feeling that one that occurred on 9th July 2006 would probably top the list. The foul was committed towards the end of extra time when the score was 1-1 at the World Cup final between Italy and France at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. The protagonists were the two goalscorers - France's Zinedine Zidane and Italy's Marco Materazzi. A shirt tug and exchange of words was followed by Materazzi ending up on the floor having been headbutted to the chest by Zidane. Zidane was red-carded. The speculation after the match centred on what was said between the two....it seems that an insulting comment about a family member led to the headbutt. As to the World Cup - Italy beat France 5-3 on penalties to become world champions, Zidane won the player of the tournament award but never played for France again.

Arsenal appointed their youngest manager with 34-year-old Terry Neill replacing Bertie Mee. The former Arsenal captain had managed Hull and Tottenham before arriving back at Highbury.