Roy Keane has confessed that Manchester United ought to feel ‘pretty ashamed’ about their controversial choice to withdraw from the FA Cup in 2000 whilst they were the reigning champions, opting instead to compete in the Club World Cup. United had claimed the domestic trophy as part of their legendary treble in 1999, but became the first side in history to refuse even trying to retain their title the subsequent year.
They instead opted to participate in the inaugural World Team Championship, which is now called the Club World Cup. United accepted the Football Association’s proposal to skip the tournament. Chelsea proceeded to claim the silverware, defeating Aston Villa in the Wembley showpiece. The choice sparked widespread condemnation from fans and journalists, who slammed the Manchester club for diminishing the world’s most ancient football tournament.
Former chairman Martin Edwards declared at the time that they had ‘no alternative’ and reached the verdict ‘in the national interest’.
Sir Alex Ferguson‘s squad managed just one victory from their three matches in the eight-team Club World Championship in Brazil. They secured third place in Group B behind Mexican outfit Necaxa and eventual finalists Vasco da Gama.
Keane’s remarks followed Gary Neville stating on the Stick to Football podcast: “I think one thing that was definitely better back in the day was the FA Cup. That was magic when we were playing.”
The Irish football legend, who clinched the FA Cup four times in his illustrious career, reflected: “I think the magic has come back a bit the last few years now. When you think of it when we were at United, we should be pretty ashamed because we pulled out of the FA Cup.
“I know it wasn’t down to us but we accepted it as players. How mad was that, your team pulling out of the FA Cup.”
United justified their decision as an opportunity ‘to compete for the ultimate honour of being the very first world club champions’ even though they didn’t manage to secure the trophy.
However, this didn’t deter them from their primary goal of retaining their Premier League title, which they accomplished by a staggering 18 points.
Ferguson defended the decision at the time, stating: “We can’t go for them all. We can’t play in the FA Cup and in Brazil. That would be impossible. We’re in a no-win situation here.
“The criticism we would have received if we hadn’t gone [to Brazil] would have been unthinkable, and that’s a Scotsman speaking.”