ON THIS DAY: 2006

LUTON manager Mike Newell apologised to assistant referee Amy Rayner (left) after describing her appointment in their 3-2 defeat by QPR as “tokenism for the politically correct idiots”. The Hatters later said Newell’s criticism was “completely unacceptable”.

1963: Sporting set a new record for the highest score in one of the major European club competitions when they beat Apoel Nicosia 16-1 in the first round of the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

1992: Evander Holyfield lost his world heavyweight title to Riddick Bowe in Las Vegas after two years as champion.

1997: Ron Atkinson returned as manager of struggling Sheffield Wednesday. He managed to keep the Owls in the Premier League but stepped down at the end of the season to be replaced by Danny Wilson.