Manchester United fans have again hit back at co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s views on immigration – this time with a banner at Old Trafford.
Supporters unfurled a banner reading ‘MUFC proudly colonised by immigrants’ and featuring foreign players above the tunnel during their 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
It comes just weeks after the petrochemicals billionaire claimed that the UK has been ‘colonised by immigrants’ at the European Industry Summit in Antwerp.
His comments, popular with some and decried by others, were ironic given that United have relied on 18 players from countries outside the United Kingdom this season.
Ratcliffe is also a migrant himself, primarily residing in Monaco for the last six years and saving himself billions in tax.
Protest group The ’58 branded Ratcliffe ‘a total embarrassment’ in mid-February.
Manchester United fans claimed they were ‘proudly colonised by migrants’ in a banner
Ratcliffe had used the same language to describe the issue of immigration to the UK
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust also criticised the divisive nature of Ratcliffe’s comments, while anti-racism charity Kick It Out called them ‘disgraceful’.
Meanwhile, The Manchester United Muslim Supporters’ Club accused Ratcliffe of fuelling far-right hate speech as well as risking ‘legitimising prejudice and deepening division’.
Ratcliffe had told Sky News: ‘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 by immigrants, really, hasn’t it? It’s costing too much money.’
Ratcliffe suggested that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is too nice to address the tough issues and said he has met with Reform leader Nigel Farage, describing him as ‘an intelligent man’ with ‘good intentions’.
Starmer called on Ratcliffe to apologise, describing his remarks as ‘offensive and wrong’, while Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester who has worked closely with the club over plans for a new stadium, said they are ‘inaccurate, insulting and inflammatory’.
Comparing the situation in the country to running United, Ratcliffe added: ‘I’ve seen quite a bit of this at the football club. If you do difficult things, which we felt that we had to do at Manchester United … we felt like they were the right things to do. But you do become very unpopular for a while.
‘I’ve been very unpopular at Manchester United because we’ve made lots of changes. But for the better, in my view – and I think we’re beginning to see some evidence in the football club that that’s beginning to pay off.
‘But you’ve got all the same issues with the country. If you really want to deal with the major issues of immigration, with people opting to take benefits rather than working for a living, then you’re going to have to do some things which are unpopular, and show some courage.’
The ’58 issued a statement hitting out at Ratcliffe and challenging his view that he has improved the club with a restructure that has cost hundreds of jobs, changes to ticketing policy and plans to build a new £2billion stadium to replace Old Trafford.
They also criticised him for judging the state of the country while continuing to live tax-free in Monaco.
Man United went third as they came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on Sunday
‘A very ill-advised statement from Sir Jim Ratcliffe today,’ said the group. ‘Once again a total embarrassment, whether in front of a camera or being interviewed.
‘Commenting on the issues of our country while living in Monaco to avoid paying tax is bad enough. However, his comments on Manchester United are particularly worrying.
‘If his measure of improvement is hiring an interim manager after sacking their first choice because it was a bad decision to hire Ruben Amorim in the first place, then the jury is out.
‘Michael Carrick’s form is down to luck, not a measured long-term development strategy, and nothing this ownership can take any credit in. It’s clear the next manager will change the system again.
‘He mentions that he’s unpopular with fans and that is an understatement,’ added the group as they pointed to ‘increasing draconian measures for season-ticket holders just trying to attend a game and pass on a ticket to a friend or family’, ‘rising matchday ticket prices for members’, ‘pricing out the loyal fan’, and ‘forcing a new stadium that is clearly unwanted by the majority of match-going supporters’.
It concluded: ‘If he cannot see the reasons why he’s unpopular then he is completely deluded; completely out-of-touch with the core fanbase that made our club what it is today. This is a worrying statement in so many ways and for all match-going supporters.’
