Roy Keane has admitted he feels a lingering sense of shame over Manchester Unitedâs decision to withdraw from the FA Cup in 2000. Speaking candidly, the former Red Devils captain looked back at the controversial move under Sir Alex Ferguson, which saw the club prioritize the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship over defending their domestic cup title. Now, years later, Keane believes the decision remains a regrettable chapter in the club’s history.
Keane Calls Out 2000 FA Cup Withdrawal
On a recent episode of the Stick to Football podcast, Keane didnât hold back when discussing Unitedâs choice to skip the 1999â2000 FA Cup campaign. “We should be pretty ashamed,” said Keane. “I know it wasnât fully our decision, but as players, we accepted it. Imagine thatâyour team pulling out of the FA Cup.”
The decision was made after Manchester United completed a historic treble the previous season, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League. Instead of returning to defend their FA Cup crown, United opted to represent Europe in the FIFA Club World Championship, held in Brazil, after pressure from the Football Association.
The FAâs Bid and Unitedâs Motivation
The FA reportedly urged United to participate in the newly launched tournament to support Englandâs bid to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup. At the time, former United chairman Martin Edwards explained the clubâs stance: “Manchester United see this as an opportunity to compete for the ultimate honour of being the very first world club champions.”
Sir Alex Ferguson echoed that sentiment, pointing out the logistical challenges. “We canât go for them all. We canât play in the FA Cup and in Brazil. That would be impossible,” Ferguson said at the time. âWe were in a no-win situation.â
Club World Cup Ends in Disappointment
Unitedâs gamble failed to pay off on the pitch. Drawn in a group alongside Brazilian side Vasco da Gama and Mexican outfit Necaxa, United failed to progress past the group stage, managing just one win in the tournament. Meanwhile, back home, Chelsea went on to lift the FA Cup after beating Aston Villa in the final.
The decision sparked widespread criticism from fans and pundits alike, many of whom saw Unitedâs withdrawal as disrespectful to the tradition of the FA Cup.
Fergusonâs Later Regret
Years later, Sir Alex Ferguson expressed regret over the move. In an interview with Inside United, he described the experience as âa disaster.â He explained: âWe did it to help Englandâs World Cup bid. 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 wasnât our fault.â
Despite acknowledging that the trip provided a valuable mid-season break, Ferguson admitted the backlash was overwhelming and long-lasting.
The Legacy of a Controversial Choice
The 2000 FA Cup withdrawal remains one of the most debated moments in modern Manchester United history. For Keane, the disappointment still lingers. “How mad was that?â he asked. âPulling out of the FA Cupâsomething that meant so much to us as players and fans.”
While the magic of the FA Cup has seen a resurgence in recent years, the memory of that controversial absence continues to serve as a cautionary tale of balancing football tradition with political and commercial pressure.
