On this day: November 21

1965: Football crowd tears down goalposts and attacks match officials

On 21 November 1965, a pitch invasion at a football match culminated in supporters ripping down goalposts and assaulting officials after a controversial decision, prompting police intervention and later disciplinary action.

NASA Loses Contact with Mars Observer Spacecraft

On November 21, 1993, NASA lost communications with the Mars Observer spacecraft just days before its scheduled orbit insertion at Mars. Attempts to reestablish contact continued for months but the spacecraft was never recovered.

Supreme Court Orders End to Delays in Desegregating Schools

On November 21, 1968, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that courts must not accept indefinite or protracted plans that delay meaningful desegregation of public schools, reinforcing the mandate of Brown v. Board of Education to achieve prompt school integration.

Charles de Gaulle Elected President of the Fifth Republic

On 21 November 1959 Charles de Gaulle became President of France, consolidating his leadership role under the new constitution of the Fifth Republic that he had helped establish the previous year.

Deadly November 1980 Las Vegas Hotel Fire Kills Dozens

On November 21, 1980, a major fire at a Las Vegas hotel caused widespread destruction and resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries; the blaze prompted investigations into fire safety practices in Nevada’s rapidly growing casino-hotels.