Manchester United has reiterated its dedication to equality and diversity following controversial remarks by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe about immigration in the United Kingdom.
Sir Jim, the billionaire founder and chairman of Ineos and a minority stakeholder in the club since late 2023, faced widespread criticism after stating in a televised interview that “the UK has been colonised by immigrants.” The comments prompted reactions from political leaders, football authorities and supporters’ groups.
In response, Manchester United issued a statement distancing the club from the controversy and reaffirming its long-standing commitment to inclusion.
“Manchester United prides itself on being an inclusive and welcoming club. Our diverse group of players, staff and global community of supporters reflect the history and heritage of Manchester; a city that anyone can call home. Since launching All Red All Equal in 2016, we have embedded equality, diversity and inclusion into everything we do.”
The club further emphasized its continued support for equality initiatives, noting that its values are embedded in its policies and workplace culture. It also highlighted its achievement of the Premier League’s Advanced Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Standard.
“We will continue to represent our people, our city and our fans with purpose and pride,” the statement said.
Without directly mentioning Sir Ratcliffe, the club referenced its engagement with LGBTQ+ communities, mental health advocacy, awareness campaigns on violence against women and girls, as well as outreach to Jewish and disabled supporters. Manchester United stated that additional initiatives would be rolled out in the coming months.
The controversy began after Sir Jim’s interview with Sky News, where 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 is being colonised. It’s costing too much money. The UK has been colonised by immigrants.”
Sir Ratcliffe further claimed: “I mean, the population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it’s 70 million. That’s 12 million people.”
However, data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that the UK population stood at approximately 67 million in mid-2020 and 70 million in mid-2024. The figure was last close to 58 million around the year 2000.
Following the backlash, Sir Jim issued a statement expressing regret over his choice of words.
“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.
“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.”
Political leaders were quick to respond. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the comments as “offensive and wrong.” He later added: “Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country. Jim Ratcliffe should apologise.”
The Football Association confirmed it would assess whether the remarks could bring the game into disrepute.
In the same interview, Sir Ratcliffe suggested the prime minister was “maybe too nice” for the role, stating: “It’s a tough job, and I think you have to do some difficult things with the UK to get it back on track.”
He also referred to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as an “intelligent man” with “good intentions,” while noting that similar optimism had surrounded Sir Keir at the start of his tenure. “I think it needs somebody who’s prepared to be unpopular for a period of time to get the big issues sorted out,” he said.
Supporters’ organisations also voiced concern. The Manchester United Supporters Trust stated: “Manchester United belongs to all of its supporters.
“No fan should feel excluded from following or supporting the club because of their race, religion, nationality or background. Comments from the club’s senior leadership should make inclusion easier, not harder. This is not about politics; it is about ensuring that the custodians of Manchester United act in a way that unites supporters rather than marginalising any part of our fanbase.”
Anti-racism organisation Show Racism the Red Card also criticised the remarks, saying: “Britain is a diverse society shaped by migration. Framing that diversity as ‘colonisation’ is reinforcing harmful stereotypes and emboldening those who seek to divide rather than unite.”
Sir Ratcliffe’s comments come amid broader scrutiny of his leadership at Manchester United, where recent decisions on ticket pricing and structural reforms have already led to protests from sections of the fanbase.
