Sir Bobby Charlton has undergone minor surgery after falling ill before a sports awards night in London, BBC reported.

The 74-year-old Manchester United and England legend had been suffering from a gall stone complaint.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson collected the Lifetime Achievement Award on Charlton's behalf at the Laureus Sports Awards. "Sir Bobby is fine. But it was felt he should go back to Manchester," he said. "It's an emotional night for Bobby."

Charlton was due to pick up the award 54 years to the day since surviving the 1958 Munich air disaster, which claimed the lives of eight of his United team-mates.