This Day in History: 5th July

Goal-line technology was approved on this day in 2012 following years of opposition

Football

2012: The International Football Association Board, responsible for the Laws of the Game, finally approved the use of goal-line technology, reversing years of opposition.

1975: Birth of Hernan Crespo, an Argentine retired footballer, who scored over 300 goals in a career spanning 19 years. His honours include an Olympic Games silver medal, a Copa Libertadores, a Premier League title and three Serie A scudetti.

1979: Birth of Stiliyan Petrov, a former professional footballer who played and captained Aston Villa in the Premier League and the Bulgaria national team.

2009: Chelsea completed the signing of 19-year-old Manchester City academy graduate Daniel Sturridge after the forward decided to end his long association with the club.

Cricket

Former Indian coach John Wright (L) and Sachin Tendulkar

1954: Birth of John Wright, a former international cricketer who represented and captained New Zealand at international level and following his retirement in 1993, he coached the Indian national cricket team from 2000 to 2005.

1988: Malcolm Marshall took 7 for 22 in an imperious second-innings display as West Indies humiliated England with an innings defeat at Old Trafford.1973: Harold “Dickie” Bird made his Test debut at Headingley, umpiring the third Test between England and New Zealand. Twenty-three years later, Bird retired, having stood in what was then a record 66 Tests.

Tennis

1971: Birth of Donna Faber, a former professional tennis player. She competed in Grand Slam tournaments from 1988 to 1993.

1975: Birth of Ai Sugiyama, a retired Japanese professional tennis player. She reached No. 1 in women’s doubles on the WTA Tour. Her career-high singles ranking was No. 8, achieved on February 9, 2004.

1990: Zina Garrison upsets Steffi Graf in Wimbledon semi-finals.

Do check out the rest of the ‘This day in history’ series.