Following Manchester United's Capital One Cup defeat to Sunderland, Greater Manchester police say they received a bizarre call from a supporter who dialled 999 and demanded to speak to the former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Greater Manchester police issued a statement on their Facebook page reminding football supporters that, though defeat could be "depressing" that the 999 number is to be used for emergencies only.

The police force said: "Last night, at approximately 10.30pm a man from the Crumpsall area of north Manchester rang 999 in a drunken state demanding to speak to Sir Alex Ferguson about last night's result.

Greater Manchester Police's Facebook post. Photograph: Facebook

"Obviously, it can be a sad and depressing moment when you're [sic] football team loses a game, however can we all please remember that 999 is to be used for emergencies only. For any other police related enquiries that are not an emergency, you can ring 101.

"If you would like to speak to Sir Alex about recent football results we here at GMP Manchester North can only suggest you try ringing Manchester United FC directly as you will probably (not definitely) have a much better chance of getting through to him there rather than ringing the police."

Manchester United were beaten in a penalty shootout by Sunderland and knocked out of the Capital One Cup as a result. They currently lie seventh in the Premier League table after David Moyes succeeded Ferguson as the club's manager.

It's not the first time a United supporter has dialled 999 to complain about on-field events. Last season, an incensed fan phoned Nottinghamshire police reporting Nani's red card in the Champions League match against Real Madrid as a 'crime'.