Reds’ FA Cup KO.. a case of yes, minister?

IT is a great pub quiz question. Who put Manchester United out of the FA Cup in 1999-2000? United maintain it was the Government, although history books record they withdrew from the competition. As Champions League winners, they were invited to be in FIFA’S inaugural Club World Championship in Brazil in January 2000. The Reds were also representing UEFA in the Inter-continental Cup against South American champions Palmeiras that November and felt they could not combine these extra games with the FA Cup. Pulling out of the cup sparked outrage, and Mirror Sport led a campaign to persuade them to change their minds, claiming they had devalued the world’s oldest competition. United felt they were put under unfair political pressure by Sports Minister Tony Banks and the FA. England were campaigning to host the 2006 World Cup, and United chairman Martin Edwards claimed they were told the FA’S bid would be damaged if they did not go to Brazil. “It was put to us that if Manchester United did not compete in the tournament in Brazil it would severely damage the chances of England winning the 2006 World Cup bid,” he said. “It was purely on that basis that we withdrew from the FA Cup and agreed to play in Brazil. “It was made quite plain to us that it would severely enhance the chances of the 2006 World Cup bid if we played in Brazil. It was put even stronger than that – that we could jeopardise England’s chances if we didn’t.” There was a silver lining for Quinton Fortune, signed that summer from Atletico Madrid. “It was sad we could not compete in the FA Cup, but to play in Brazil in the Maracana was a dream come true for me,” said the South African. United were left to wonder if it was all worth it. They exited the Club World Championship at the group stage and England lost out to Germany for the right to stage the 2006 World Cup.

THE Christmas No.1 in 1999 – the final one of the 20th century – was Westlife’s double A-side “I Have a Dream/seasons in the Sun.”