World Cup brothers' feud: Remarks about my wife by our Jack were just disgraceful, says Bobby Charlton

But as brothers, Bobby and Jack Charlton's relationship has been marred by a bitter feud.

Jack Charlton brought it into the open in 1996, in an interview to mark the publication of his autobiography.

Now Sir Bobby, with a book of his own to publicise, has hit back and accused his older brother of "absolutely disgraceful" statements.

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The 69-year-old former Manchester United star revealed that he rarely sees Jack, even at Christmas - and that the arrival of grandchildren has not thawed the relationship.

The two sporting legends, who grew up in a tiny house in the mining village of Ashington, Northumberland, have never been the best of friends.

But a major rift opened when Jack, 72, criticised his brother for not visiting their mother Cissie before her death.

He also spoke of the poor relationship between Cissie and Sir Bobby's wife Norma.

Since then, the brothers have continued to appear together at England reunions, but scarcely met at any other time.

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Now Sir Bobby has admitted: "We've never been further apart than we are now. I just don't want to know him."

He is clearly still angry over his brother's remarks. He said he confronted Jack at the time, but the former Republic of Ireland manager refused to back down.

Sir Bobby said: "My wife is a very strong character and does not suffer fools gladly. I am not suggesting my mother was a fool. There was a clash and it just never went away really."

He said Norma had tried to make peace with her mother-in-law, but in vain, adding that, in the end, "we stopped seeing each other".

"Jack came out in the newspapers saying things about my wife that were absolutely disgraceful. Nonsense. Ask anybody that ever met my wife, 'hoitytoity' is not a word they'd use.

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"My brother made a big mistake. I don't understand why he did it. He couldn't possibly have known her and said what he said. I was astonished."

Sir Bobby, who lives near Altrincham, Cheshire, also told the Times: "I'm not going to ruin the rest of my life worrying about my brother and I've no doubt he's the same.

"If we see each other we'll say hello. I'm sorry it's happened, but life goes on."

Jack, who lives in Newcastle with his wife Pat, refused to discuss the rift yesterday, saying: "It's got nothing to do with anybody else. I'm finished with it."

But his son John revealed: "He's a little disappointed and feels Bobby doesn't need to write that kind of stuff".