This article was originally published on Thursday morning and has been updated to reflect a statement from Sir Jim Ratcliffe released later that day.
Whether you agree with Sir Jim Ratcliffe or not, Manchester United fans have become used to key decision-makers publicly expressing strong political views. For nearly two decades, Ratcliffe’s predecessors, the Glazers, said little.
When United fans asked for further information, or any kind of communication, they probably didn’t have in mind what they were now getting on United’s front page news, as Ratcliffe, an immigrant living in Monaco, says: Britain has been “colonized” by immigrants.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer intervened.condemned his comments as “offensive and wrong. Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country. Jim Ratcliffe should apologize.”
Manchester United were brought into this issue after Ratcliffe spoke directly about the club in an interview on the issue of Europe’s petrochemical industry, comparing the work he is doing to rebuild the club with the work that, in his view, needs to be done in England. This is a highly divisive topic, and his words will embolden those who agree with him and cause real-life repercussions on the streets he rarely walks.
This doesn’t necessarily change many United fans’ opinion of Ratcliffe. Historically, there has been little love for the powerful executives and decision-makers at Old Trafford. Probably never. Ratcliffe rarely received such positive treatment in the stands. In November 2024, he presented the award to Bruno Fernandes, who made 250 appearances for United, and was greeted with applause on the pitch. However, fans are not used to the club’s marquee players making controversial statements.
Management usually sticks to football, not politics. But Mr Ratcliffe has long been an executive at a Cologne-based petrochemicals business and has advocated for Brexit in 2016, for example. Mr Ratcliffe’s current comments concern perhaps the most divisive issue in Britain today, and to his diverse, global fanbase, they are about much more than business.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s tax affairs have been criticized (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)
If you’re the head of United, Ratcliffe isn’t exactly the top, but you’re the key decision maker and the person whose voice matters most, then you’re a big hitter and enjoy privileges akin to a politician. You’re also a manager, in charge of a club loved by millions of people around the world, and with that comes responsibility. Your words matter.
There are no obstacles to supporting Manchester United. Anyone can do it and millions of people are doing it. It doesn’t matter where they come from, their religion, politics, geography, or socio-economic background. It crosses the line. Fans should find joy (a challenge in recent years) in sports releases. That’s what the word “unity” should mean, and slogans like “United We Stand,” the name of our fanzine, were deliberately chosen.
United fans have little choice in who owns the club. This is not Barcelona, where the fans vote, so the system is also deeply flawed, but what we are left with is who to work with and how. When I spoke to Ratcliffe in 2024 — He doesn’t mince his words or do PR. He was outspoken and praised United’s global support, setting an example of how he was recognized as United’s top boss on the Mongolian border.
“The important thing is that Manchester United is everywhere on the planet,” he told me. “It’s bigger than I expected. Everywhere I go, when I’m fishing on the north coast of Iceland all the guides are Manchester United supporters, or when I’m in Africa and I’m in the bush in Botswana, Kenya or Tanzania, they’re all United supporters.”
Positive, right?
He didn’t talk about supporting United on Wednesday, but if you use language about immigrants that includes the word “colonized” (and no one did colonization better than the British, who built an empire), you’re by association.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe celebrates United’s goal against Manchester City last month (Karl Lessine/Getty Images)
Manchester, where Ratcliffe grew up in a working-class neighborhood, is also proud and diverse. Colonized by the Romans, the city has been a city of immigrants since the arrival of Flemish weavers in the 14th century. It continues to this day. Many of United’s footballers are immigrants and contribute significantly to the UK tax system.
Even if you understand that Ratcliffe didn’t mean those footballers or Manchester residents, if you step in with a big statement, the headlines will be written for you.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “These comments go against everything Manchester is traditionally about – a place where people of all races, faiths and nobodies have worked together over centuries to build our city and our institutions, including Manchester United FC. It’s one thing to call for curbs on immigration levels, but quite another to portray those who come here as a hostile invading force.”
“Footballers who come from all over the world to play in Greater Manchester have improved the lives of our city regions, as have the many people who work in Greater Manchester’s NHS and other vital services and industries.”
Will Ratcliffe backtrack? Will he double down? In the end, he did neither. “Language choice made some people uncomfortable” However, I have no qualms about raising the issue of immigration in the first place.
There may be further implications. Didn’t Ratcliffe want government support for development? Potential new Old Trafford stadium?And there’s no game until February 23rd, so there’s plenty of time for this game to get talked about.