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."