Backlash Against Ratcliffe’s Comments on Immigration

omidbasir- Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the founder of INEOS, has ignited a fierce backlash within the sports community following his unsolicited remarks about immigration during an interview with Sky News. He claimed that the United Kingdom had been “colonised by immigrants,” a statement that has provoked widespread indignation, including a response from Maro Itoje, the captain of the England rugby team.

Itoje, who was attending his mother’s funeral in Nigeria at the time, expressed his disapproval of Ratcliffe’s language. He stated, as reported by The Guardian: “I was born in this country of Nigerian descent and I think it’s ridiculous to say Great Britain has been colonised by immigrants because that is so far from the truth. I think it’s wrong.” He also conveyed his pride in representing England, noting, “It’s been great to be back with England; it’s one of the things my mum loved. I don’t come from a traditional rugby family, but my parents became rugby people through and through. She always loved the fact that I was a representative of this team.”

The comments made by Ratcliffe, a billionaire and Manchester United co-owner who resides in Monaco, have prompted numerous calls for an apology. In his Sky News interview, he asserted: “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. It’s costing too much money. The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn’t it? I mean, the population of the UK was 58 million in 2020, now it’s 70 million. That’s 12 million people.”

Political leaders have also weighed in, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeling Ratcliffe’s remarks as “offensive and wrong,” urging the United co-owner to issue a public apology. Andy Burnham echoed this sentiment, describing Ratcliffe’s statements as “inaccurate, insulting and inflammatory,” and called for a retraction.

In response to the outcry, Ratcliffe issued a statement expressing regret for the offense his language may have caused. He emphasized the importance of discussing controlled and well-managed immigration as a means to support economic growth. His intent, he clarified, was to highlight the necessity for governments to manage migration in conjunction with investment in skills, industry, and job creation to ensure shared long-term prosperity.

The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) also reacted strongly on social media, asserting, “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.”

Furthermore, the Football Association is currently reviewing Ratcliffe’s comments to determine if there has been any breach of conduct rules, which mandate that “participants”—including directors like Ratcliffe—must act in the best interests of the game and avoid improper or disreputable behavior.

This controversy arises at a time when Manchester United is experiencing a managerial shift, having replaced Ruben Amorim with Michael Carrick, and has achieved an unbeaten streak of five games, propelling them back into the top four of the Premier League. The team is set to face Everton next week on February 23 after their recent FA Cup elimination.