- Manchester United and other Intercontinental Cup winners have been named World Club champions
- The Intercontinental Cup was staged between 1960 and 2004 without the input of FIFA
- FIFA has now ruled that those who won the trophy be recognized as Club World Cup champions
FIFA has ruled that Manchester United, AC Milan, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich be named club world champions for their wins in the Intercontinental Cup between 1960 and 2004.
The council of the sport's world governing body said it had officially recognised the winners of the Intercontinental Cup, as club world champions, ESPN reports.
The competition was usually played between the winners of the European Cup/Champions League and South America's Copa Libertadores.
Man United won the 1999 Intercontinental Cup. Photo: ESPNfc
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However on may occasions, it was marred by violence, disagreements over the format and disinterest from European teams like Liverpool who refused to play Argentina's Boca Juniors in 1977 and 1978.
No club from outside Europe or South America has ever claimed either of football's world titles.
Three-time Intercontinental Cup winners: AC Milan (1969, 1989, 1990), Boca Juniors (1977, 2000, 2003), Nacional (1971, 1980, 1988), Penarol (1961, 1966, 1982), Real Madrid (1960, 1998, 2002)
Two times: Ajax (1972, 1995), Bayern Munich (1976, 2001), Independiente (1973, 1984), Inter Milan (1964, 1965), Juventus (1985, 1996), Porto (1987, 2004), Santos (1962, 1963), Sao Paulo (1992, 1993)
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One time: Atletico Madrid (1974*), Borussia Dortmund (1997), Estudiantes (1968), Feyenoord (1970), Flamengo (1981), Gremio (1983), Manchester United (1999), Olimpia (1979), Racing (1967), Red Star Belgrade (1991), River Plate (1986), Velez Sarsfield (1994)
*European Cup runners-up, only participated after champions Bayern Munich declined to play
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Source: Sports.naija.ng