Sir Jim Ratcliffe appears to find himself in hot water at Manchester United in the wake of his comments on immigration in the UK, with the consequences potentially damaging for both himself and the club’s brand in equal measure.
Whether he was right or wrong, the INEOS chief is now battling to win round supporters and his own superiors after deciding to speak out on such a sensitive subject.
Last week, the 71-year-old billionaire spoke to Sky News and claimed that Britain was being ‘colonised’ by migrants.
He said: “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. I mean, the UK has been colonised. It’s costing too much money.
“The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it? I mean, the population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it’s 70 million. That’s 12 million people.”
The backlash to his comments were fierce. Thousands of United fans on social media expresed their fury, the club put out a statement and Ratcliffe ended up offering a half-hearted apology centred on his choice of language, rather than what he actually said and meant.
“I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern but it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth,” he stated.
“My comments were made while answering questions about UK policy at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp, where I was discussing the importance of economic growth, jobs, skills and manufacturing in the UK.
“My intention was to stress that governments must manage migration alongside investment in skills, industry and jobs so that long-term prosperity is shared by everyone.
“It is critical that we maintain an open debate on the challenges facing the UK.”
Ratcliffe, who purchased a minority stake in United in February 2024, is already a divisive figure at the club. Upon arriving, hundreds of staff were laid off and the Red Devils have struggled to compete for the biggest titles on offer.
According to the BBC, however, the 71-year-old now finds himself in a precarious situation at the club.
It’s said that United’s majority owners, the Glazer family, will have been ‘horrified’ by their remarks given their own personal past.
Their grandparents were Lithuanian Jewish immigrants to the US and, though they’ve often angered fans by their refusal to invest their own money into the Red Devils, they have been supportive of inclusive initiatives inside the club.
Ratcliffe’s comments also come at a time where United’s commercial performance is leaving much to be desired. Sponsors have started to dry up, with the fallen giants currently without a training kit partner since last season. Furthermore, their current shirt-sleeve sponsorship deal is due to expire this summer.
A source said: “Big multi-nationals want to associate with youth, positivity and forward-thinking. United is currently struggling for sponsors… and this exacerbates that.”
There are also fears that Ratcliffe’s comments will make securing funding for the Red Devils’ new stadium a far harder task, too.
With Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham lashing out, an insider has fired a stark warning.
“Real harm could been done,” they said.
“The dust is still settling and none of it is insurmountable. But the optics of the council, the mayor and the government appearing to support his plans just became harder.”
What the future holds for Ratcliffe at United is unclear.
The Glazers actually hold the power. Should they receive an offer from a third party that they want to accept, they can essentially force Ratcliffe out. Whether that happens, and whether relations can be repaired, is something only time will tell.
