At present, Manchester United are a United front, but Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent immigration comments have left the players feeling “dismayed”.
Manchester United are in a rich vein of form – they are unbeaten in nine games, and have picked up 13 points from a possible 15 in their last Premier League games. However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent comments can take the shine off the good work Michael Carrick has done as United manager.
Ratcliffe is entitled to his opinions, even when they jar many who hear them. Freedom of expression applies as much to billionaires as to supporters on the Stretford End.
But ownership of a football club – particularly one as globally cherished and culturally significant as United – demands more than the right to speak. It demands judgment. It demands an awareness that words carry consequences far beyond the boardroom.
In response to the clumsy comments, Ratcliffe has now apologised, he said: “Sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe.” He added that his remarks were intended to spark discussion of immigration policy, not to disparage communities.
The apology is a necessary step to ease tensions within the club, the dressing room, and among the global fan base.
A dressing room and a global identity
United’s dressing room reflects modern football and modern Britain: multinational, multicultural, interconnected. Players from 14 different countries make up the majority of the squad, and they are central to the club’s identity and success.
Even if Ratcliffe intended a broader discussion and debate, context matters. Tone matters. Timing matters. Comments suggesting the country is “colonised by immigrants” risk alienating players who come from immigrant backgrounds and the millions of supporters worldwide who see themselves reflected in United’s diversity
Consider Kobbie Mainoo, a Stockport-born England international whose father emigrated from Ghana. He embodies both local roots and immigrant heritage. Remarks like Ratcliffe’s can create unease in a club that thrives on inclusion.
A football team is people from all walks of life coming together to achieve a shared goal, and they are right to feel “dismayed” by the recent comments, given the badge they represent.
There is also a wider reputational risk. Ratcliffe, a Monaco tax resident, speaking on national identity, opens himself to accusations of hypocrisy. Whether fair or not, such perceptions gain traction quickly in today’s media landscape. With access to global platforms – Sky News and beyond – his words travel instantly.
Ratcliffe has often been out of touch
Ratcliffe has often been seen as out of touch with United’s fan base. Many supporters were frustrated when ticket prices were increased under his ownership, making matches less accessible for long-standing fans.
He said, “I don’t think it makes sense that a United ticket should cost less than a Fulham ticket.
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When decisions appear to put profit before people, it reinforces the belief that ownership does not fully grasp the club’s culture or the spirit of the city it represents.
“I do not want to be in a situation where the real fans can’t afford to come, but I want to make the most we can out of the ticket sales.”
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