Manager Roy Keane has confessed that Manchester United should be “pretty embarrassed” about their controversial choice to withdraw from the FA Cup in 2000, despite being reigning champions, and instead play in the Club World Cup. United won the domestic trophy in 1999 as part of the legendary treble, but the following year they became the first team in history to even refuse to try to retain the title.
Instead, they chose to participate in the 1st World Team Championship, now called the Club World Cup. United accepted the Football Association’s proposal to sit out the tournament. Chelsea defeated Aston Villa in the main match at Wembley to win the silver medal. This choice sparked widespread condemnation from fans and journalists, who accused the Manchester club of letting down the world’s oldest football tournament.
Former chairman Martin Edwards declared at the time that there was “no other choice” and that the verdict was reached “in the national interest”.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side won just one of their three matches at the eight-team World Club Championship in Brazil. They secured third place in Group B behind Mexico’s Necaxa and eventual finalists Vasco da Gama.
Keane’s comments came after Gary Neville said on the Stick to Football podcast: “I think the FA Cup was definitely better in the past. It was magic when we were playing.”
The Irish football legend, who won four FA Cups during his glittering career, said: “I think the last few years have brought a little bit of the magic back. If you think back to when I was at United, losing the FA Cup was pretty embarrassing.”
“We know it’s not our fault, but as players we accepted it. It was really upsetting to see your team pull out of the FA Cup.”
Although United failed to win the trophy, they justified their decision as an opportunity to “compete for the ultimate honor of being the inaugural World Club Champions”.
However, this did not deter them from their main objective of retaining the Premier League title, which they achieved with an impressive 18 points.
Ferguson defended the decision at the time, saying: “We can’t go after everyone. We can’t go to the FA Cup, we can’t go to Brazil. That’s not possible. We’re in a no-win situation here.”
“I couldn’t have imagined the criticism I would have received if I hadn’t gone[to Brazil]. That’s the Scottish story.”
