FA Cup Holders Became First and Only Winners to Withdraw From Tournament

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he "regretted" the circumstances which led to Manchester United withdrawing from the FA Cup.

Back in the summer of 1999, just weeks after they lifted the world's oldest domestic cup competition following a 2-0 victory over Newcastle, Manchester United opted against defending the trophy.

A month after completing the treble and the club released a statement to confirm the controversial news.

"We realise that many of our supporters will be as disappointed as we are with our decision not to compete in the FA Cup," they said. "Manchester United see this as an opportunity to compete for the ultimate honour of being the very first world club champions."

United pulled out so they could play in the Club World Championship - a moment that shocked English football to its core. In fact, some critics have argued that the FA Cup has never fully recovered from the decision.

United won the treble in 1999. Image credit: Getty

Unfortunately for the club and its fans, United's run at the tournament in Brazil came to an abrupt end on January 8, 2000, after they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Vasco da Gama.

At the time, Ferguson claimed the South American weather had rejuvenated his players, who would go on to retain their Premier League title by a record-breaking 18 points.

"It's been fantastic here - what a chance for us to come out and get some sun," he said.

"Back home we would have been freezing our toes off. It's been well organised. The Brazilian people have looked after us very well. On the playing side, we wish we had been better."

However, Ferguson revealed a decade later that he regretted the decision, claiming United did so to try and help England's bid to host the World Cup in 2006.

"It turned out to be a disaster for us," he told club magazine Inside United in 2009. "We did it to help England's World Cup bid and that was the political situation.

"I regretted it because we got nothing but stick and terrible criticism for not being in the FA Cup when really, it wasn't our fault at all. The Football Association and the government felt that playing in this tournament would help England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup."

Sir Alex Ferguson is sent off by fourth official Saad Kamel Mane during the FIFA Club World Championship group B match against Necaxa. Image credit: Getty

He added: "There was a lot of undue criticism - but it was a great two-week break."

The saga turned into an all-round disaster, with England's World Cup bid failing and United's attempts at winning the inaugural World Club Championships coming to an unfortunate end following defensive mistakes.