National treasure Sir Bobby Charlton was been taken ill on Monday night - hours before he was awarded a prestigious sporting Oscar.
England legend Sir Bobby,74, was due to be presented with a lifetime achievement gong at the Laureus academy awards in London last night.
But after feeling unwell on Sunday, he was rushed back to Manchester for what Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson described as "a minor operation" - understood to be the removal of a gallstone.
Ferguson collected the award on Sir Bobby's behalf - on the 54th anniversary of the Munich air disaster which claimed the lives of eight of his team-mates in United's Busby Babes.
Fergie said: "Sir Bobby is fine, but it was felt he should go back to Manchester. He is very annoyed not to be here to receive this award, but I'll be taking the statuette back to Old Trafford for him.
"It was a minor operation but he'll be fine, I'm sure of that. He loves the work he does for Laureus and I know how delighted he is to receive this tribute."
United had unfurled a fitting tribute to Charlton and the Busby Babes by fighting back to earn a 3-3 draw at Chelsea on Sunday - the same score as their European Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade before the homeward journey ended in disaster.
Northern Ireland golfers Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke also picked up awards - the US Open champion for winning his first Major and Clarke for his triumph at Royal St George's last July, at the age of 42 and his 20th attempt at the Open championship.
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