"Sir Bobby is fine, but it was felt he should go back to Manchester," Ferguson said. "He is very annoyed not to be here to receive this Award.

"I'll be taking the statuette back to Old Trafford for him.

"He loves the work he does for Laureus and I know how delighted he is to have received this tribute."

Charlton, who survived the Munich air disaster, was honoured on the 54th anniversary of the tragedy that claimed the lives of several of his United team-mates.

"It was already a very emotional night for Bobby," Ferguson explained.

"This is the 54th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, when we lost eight of our young players. Through that time, Bobby has kept his fantastic humility, and that makes him very special to me.

"Manchester United is Bobby's life. He came to the club as a 15-year-old boy and he's been with us ever since -- he is one of our ambassadors now."

Charlton was one of the key figures in persuading United to stick with Ferguson when the early years of what has since become a trophy-laden career at Old Trafford were proving unsuccessful and the Scottish managerial great said: "In my own 25 years at the club, Bobby has supported every step I've taken.

"At the beginning, they were very small steps. Later, they became big steps.

"But without his support, I don't know where I'd have been," Ferguson said.