FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has expressed
surprise Manchester United will not be allowed to wear their 'world
champions' badge in Premier League games.
United chief executive David Gill received the badge from FIFA
president Sepp Blatter ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League
encounter with Inter Milan at Old Trafford.
Yet the honour, earned by the Red Devils thanks to their triumph
at the Club World Cup in December, has not been embraced by the
Premier League, who have rejected a request for United to wear it
in domestic combat.
They argue that as United qualified for the Club World Cup
through the Champions League, that is the tournament in which the
badge should be worn.
Yet that argument ignores the fact clubs only compete in the
Champions League by virtue of their domestic league position.
And last year, AC Milan were allowed to wear the badge both in
European competition and Serie A until United were officially
crowned world champions in Yokohama on December 21.
"We are happy for Manchester United to wear the badge in every
game until the next Club World Cup but the Premier League says no,"
shrugged Valcke.
"AC Milan wore it all the time last year, including Serie A. It
would seem to make sense for that situation to apply again but
unfortunately it will just be in Champions League games."
The Premier League's stance was certainly not anticipated by
Blatter when he was putting his name to a statement confirming the
prestigious nature of the award.
"Manchester United have won a multitude of honours during their
illustrious history but in Tokyo last December they added a new
title, that of FIFA world club champions," said Blatter.
"This commemorative presentation recognises the achievement of
Sir Alex Ferguson and his players and means that until late
December 2009, every time the team takes to the field, they will
take that honour with them on their shirts."