ON THIS DAY
1992: AC Milan's Dutch striker Marco van Basten was voted European Footballer of the Year for the third time in five years, equalling the record of his compatriot Johan Cruyff and France's Michel Platini.
1996: Middlesbrough cancelled their Premier League game against Blackburn, with manager Bryan Robson claiming he had 23 players ill or injured. The club were later punished at an inquiry and had three points deducted. Boro were relegated at the end of the season.
2006: Brian Ashton was appointed England head coach in succession to Andy Robinson.
2010: Carlos Tevez withdrew his transfer request and expressed his "absolute commitment" to Manchester City following clear-the-air talks, the club confirmed.
2011: Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches and fined £40,000 by the Football Association for racially abusing Patrice Evra.
2012: Scott Johnson was appointed Scotland interim head coach for the 2013 RBS 6 Nations and the summer tour to South Africa.
2014: Eoin Morgan replaced Alastair Cook as England's one-day international captain.
2016: Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said she was "badly shaken" and "fortunate to be alive" after a knife attack in her apartment.
BIRTHDAYS
Freddie Spencer (motorcycling) - American who became first man to win 250 and 500cc titles in same season in 1985, born 1961.
Ed de Goey (soccer) - former Chelsea, Stoke and Holland goalkeeper, born 1966.
Grant Flower (cricket) - former Zimbabwe international and younger brother of former England team director Andy, born 1970.
Geremi (soccer) - former Chelsea, Newcastle and Cameroon midfielder, born 1978.
Ashley Cole (soccer) - LA Galaxy's former Chelsea and England defender, born 1980.
Martin Demichelis (soccer) - Former Manchester City and Argentina defender, born 1980.
Mohammad Asif (cricket) - Disgraced former Pakistan seamer, one of three players jailed for his part in spot-fixing in 2011, born 1982.
Darren Sammy (cricket) - West Indies all-rounder who has twice captained his country to World T20 titles, born 1983.
QUICK QUIZ
1. Name the Down player who scored four goals in just four championshp matches in 2004?
2. In which sport do British teams called the Storm, Lightning, Clan and Panthers play?
3. Who were the first Galway club to win an All-Ireland Club Senior Hurling Championship title?
4. How many shots does it take to score a 147 in snooker?
5. Who was the first darts player to make a nine-dart finish at a World Championship?
(See answers at bottom)
SPORT ON TV
Today (Wednesday, December 20)
GAA: Off the Ball, an offbeat look at recent football developments - 1900 eir Sport 1.
SOCCER: Carabao Cup quarter-final, Bristol City v Manchester United - Sky Sports Main Event 1930; DFB-Pokal, Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund - BT Sport 1 1930; Ligue 1, Paris St Germain v Caen - eir Sport 1 1935.
CRICKET: India v Sri Lanka, Twenty20 international - Sky Sports Cricket 1320, Sky Sports Main Event 1330.
BASKETBALL: NBA, Houston Rockets v Los Angeles Lakers - BT Sport 1 0100 (Thurs).
Tomorrow (Thursday, December 21)
GAA: Off the Ball, an offbeat look at recent football developments - eir Sport 1 1900.
GAA: Classic GAA, Limerick v Waterford from 2007 - eir Sport 1 2130.
DARTS: World Darts Championship - Sky Sports Main Event 1900.
SOCCER: A-League, Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory - BT Sport 1 0845.
BASKETBALL: NBA, Utah Jazz v San Antonio Spurs - BT Sport 1 0330 (Fri).
Tomorrow (Thursday, December 21)
DARTS: World Darts Championship - Sky Sports Main Event 1900.
SOCCER: A-League, Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory - BT Sport 1 0845.
BASKETBALL: NBA, Utah Jazz v San Antonio Spurs - BT Sport 1 0330 (Fri).
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The Irish News Sports Week Quiz on www.irishnews.com/sport
Test your sporting knowledge of the sporting week with the multi-choice Irish News Sports Week Quiz.
Take the quiz and share your results with friends on social media to find out who the real sporting buff is.
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Quick Quiz answers: 1. Benny Coulter; 2. Ice hockey; 3. Castlegar (1980); 4. 36 ; 5. Paul Lim.
