22.02.11 | tribalfootball.com
Manchester United bossSir Alex Ferguson insists the FA Cup has a big role to play in English football.
United, who have won the trophy five times under Ferguson, were accused of undermining it by their decision not to take part in 2000. Instead, they went to the inaugural FIFA World Club Cup Championship in Brazil, having won the Champions League in 1999.
Ferguson claimed United had a gun held to their head by the FA to go to Brazil after pressure from FIFA, but later admitted it was the wrong move. And he still believes the FA Cup has a special place in the English game.
He said: “It’s a fine tournament though maybe it could do with smartening up along with a bit of tweaking to fit into the modern football calendar.
“The FA are considering various measures to revitalise a competition we may have been taking for granted. I wouldn’t like to see replays being abandoned in favour of penalty shootouts, though.
“Think about Burton Albion and the money they were able to make from their replay with us at Old Trafford a few years ago.
“But I do think it may be a good idea to seed the Premier League teams in the early stages to help protect the quality of the tournament.”
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