Man United fan group says Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘must go’ after anti-immigration comments

Manchester United’s Muslim Supporters’ Club has urged owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to step down, following fresh controversy regarding his stance on immigration amidst the team’s ongoing struggles on the pitch.

Ratcliffe, who stated in February that the UK was "colonised by immigrants" before later apologising if he had offended anyone, has doubled down on his remarks during a BBC ‘Big Boss’ interview this week.

The 73-year-old, who resides in Monaco, reiterated his personal opinions on immigration, asserting that the country "is on the slide" as a consequence of it.

Ratcliffe said: “We had the greatest empire in the world. We were a great people.

“We won two world wars. We’re good, honest folk. But unfortunately, at the moment, I think the UK is on the slide. It’s quite difficult to see how we arrest it.

“Nobody’s tough enough to deal with the immigration problem.

“Nobody’s tough enough to deal with the benefits problem. But somebody needs to do it.”

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The Manchester United’s Muslim Supporters’ Club condemned Ratcliffe’s words earlier in the year and have once again spoken out against his latest comments, describing them as ‘deeply disappointing’ (PA)

The MUMSC condemned Ratcliffe’s words earlier in the year and have once again spoken out against his latest comments, describing them as “deeply disappointing”.

United have suffered a difficult start to the campaign, having lost two games in the Premier League and been knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle against Brighton in midweek.

Fans protested against the current ownership before their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City last week with a banner that read “the way you treat us is a disgrace”, and Ratcliffe’s comments on immigration prompted MUMSC to take to X.

Part of the 750-word statement read: “Our players, staff, stewards, security teams and supporters come from different countries, cultures, ethnicities, religions and backgrounds.

“Manchester United would not be Manchester United without them. That diversity isn’t a weakness of Manchester United. It is part of Manchester United

“Different backgrounds. Different beliefs. Different politics. One Manchester United.

“Manchester United does not belong emotionally to investment funds, shareholders or billionaires. It belongs to the generations of supporters who inherited this club from their parents and grandparents and who will one day pass it to their children.

“We love Manchester United. This club is all we know and, when it comes to football, it will be all we ever know. That is precisely why we cannot stay silent.

Fans protested against the current ownership before their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City last week with a banner that read 'the way you treat us is a disgrace' (Reuters)

“This is bigger than one defeat. Bigger than one manager. Bigger than one season. It is about the direction, leadership and identity of Manchester United Football Club.

“After years of decline, broken promises and repeated failure, Manchester United Muslim Supporters’ Club has lost confidence in the current ownership structure of Manchester United Football Club.

“Enough is enough. It is time for change. The Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe must go.’

“Earlier this year, MUMSC publicly challenged Sir Jim Ratcliffe after his comments that the UK had been ‘colonised by immigrants’. We condemned those comments then. He subsequently apologised for his choice of language,’ the latest Muslim Supporters’ Club statement read.

“We hoped a lesson had been learned. Clearly, it has not.

“This week, Sir Jim has again placed immigration and people receiving benefits at the centre of his explanation for Britain’s problems, arguing that nobody is ‘tough enough’ to deal with either.

“We find these latest comments deeply disappointing and completely unacceptable.”