Sporting Witness BBC World Service

In June 1976, Muhammad Ali was the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. Ali travelled to Tokyo, Japan to face his next opponent, the professional wrestler Antonio Inoki.
In a first of its kind, the exhibition fight called “The War of the Worlds” was met with controversy because of the rules applied.
Ringside Photographer Claude Charlier tells Sean Allsop how the fight unfolded in a packed Budokan Hall and how many now consider this fight the origin of MMA Mixed Martial Arts.
(Photo: Muhammad Ali stands over Antonio Inoki, 1976. Credit: Claude Charlier)

In 1988, the Soviet Union made it to the final of the European Championships where they faced competition favourites, the Netherlands.
It proved to be the side’s last great achievement before the breakup of the union.
Soviet defender Sergei Baltacha remembers coming on as a substitute to mark the world’s best player, Marco van Basten.
He speaks to Tim Mansel.
(Photo: Sergei Baltacha tackling Holland's Ruud Gullit. Credit: Reuters)

In August 1971, a group of footballers were catapulted from obscurity to overnight stardom in Mexico when record-breaking crowds turned out as the country hosted a forerunner of the women’s World Cup.
With women’s football still in its infancy after being suppressed in many parts of the world for decades, players got a taste of the sport’s potential popularity when they appeared in front of 100,000 fans in Mexico’s biggest grounds.
One of the English team, Trudy McCaffery, tells Ian Youngs what it was like to go from playing in empty parks to the packed Azteca Stadium – and back.
(Photo: Trudy McCaffery with scrapbox. Credit: Trudy McCaffery)

It's 30 years since John Aldridge made headlines for all the wrong reasons during a World Cup match between Ireland and Mexico.
The Irish striker lost his temper with a match official, after not being allowed to take to the field as a substitute. Ireland were losing the match 2-0 and needed a goal.
Aldridge and his manager, Jack Charlton, were pictured on television broadcasts around the world shouting expletives.
Both were punished after the game, but when Aldridge finally was allowed on the pitch, he scored a goal to give Ireland a chance to get back into the game.
He shares his memories of that day with Alan Hamilton. This episode is narrated by Tricia Penrose.
A Moon Road Production for BBC World Service.
(Photo: John Aldridge shouting at FIFA official. Credit: Shutterstock)

Ten days at the end of Manchester United's 98/99 season would define the club as one of the greatest teams in the world. They won the English Premier League, followed by the FA Cup.
It had been 31 years since they last won the European Cup, with Bayern Munich determined to end their bid for the record-breaking treble.
Former United midfielder Jesper Blomqvist speaks to Uma Doraiswamy about the pressure of trying to get the treble when everybody expects you to win, and how being substituted led to United equalising when they needed it most.
(Photo: Jesper Blomqvist with the European Cup. Credit: Reuters)

It's 30 years since the death of Formula One driver, Ayrton Senna.
The three time world champion died in a crash at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy. The Brazilian icon was just 34-years-old at the time.
Following his death, major safety changes in Formula One were introduced.
Matt Pintus has been delving into the BBC World Service archives to find first person accounts of the tragedy.
You'll hear from Senna's manager, Julian Jakobi, and from one of the first people on the scene of the crash, Professor Sid Watkins.
(Photo: Ayrton Senna before the San Marino Grand Prix. Credit: Getty Images)