Ratcliffe, Man Utd and the immigration comments fallout

In the coming days, Sir Jim Ratcliffe should find out whether the Football Association’s legal team has concluded that the Manchester United boss brought the game into disrepute with his comments about immigration last week, which sparked condemnation from the government and outside.

The governing body could decide that his comments met the threshold for being charged with breaching the rules and could write to the billionaire to remind him of his responsibilities, or it could choose to take no action at all.

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But whatever the FA does, the impact of his claim that Britain has been “colonized by immigrants” (while citing incorrect population figures) is likely to be felt for some time to come.

While Ratcliffe also received support from some for raising the issue of immigration in an interview with Sky News, the fact that United felt the need to issue a statement that read like a public rebuke of their own co-owner suggests Old Trafford are frustrated, but also concerned about the cost of the backlash his comments could bring.

The clear assertion of United’s “inclusive and welcoming” values ​​- while not naming Ratcliffe directly – is a deliberate attempt to distance the club from him, with sources at Old Trafford saying it was signed off at the highest level.

Hours earlier, Ratcliffe said he was “sorry that my choice of language has offended and caused concern to some people in the UK and Europe, but it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth”.

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‘Glazer would be shocked by Ratcliffe’s comments’

Ratcliffe has always spoken highly of the Glazers, calling them “the best people on the planet” last year.

But the club’s majority shareholders were “shocked” by his initial comments and believed they were “disregarding their ownership”, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Glazers, whose grandparents were Lithuanian Jewish immigrants to the United States, have not yet commented on the incident.

But sources believe a key reason they support inclusion initiatives such as the club’s ‘All Red All Equal’ is that they see it as a brand that needs to be nurtured and highly commercialized, and they would be pessimistic about comments that might make sponsors reconsider working with United.

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“Large multinationals want to connect with young people, positivity and forward-thinking. Manchester United are currently struggling for sponsors… which exacerbates the situation,” the source added, suggesting some potential partners would “run a mile”.

Just days before all this happened, the Glazer family were said to have voiced their concerns about United’s commercial performance at a recent meeting.

It’s easy to see why. United have been without a training kit partner since last season and their shirt sponsor is set to expire this summer.

Last year, Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel company, decided not to extend its sponsorship deal with United Airlines after the contract expired.

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As Manchester United failed to qualify for the Champions League for two consecutive seasons, the value of the club’s contract with Adidas this year has also been reduced by 10 million pounds.

While United still generated record commercial revenue of £333m last year, their main Premier League rivals have been catching up to them in recent years.

So even though the club issued a statement and Ratcliffe issued a qualified apology, it’s easy to see why club executives might have been a little nervous in the wake of the controversy.

Perhaps now it depends more on whether the team can qualify for the Champions League next season.

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Glazer reserves the right to sell

What this means for the long-term relationship between the six Glazer brothers, who retain 70% of the club, and their British business partners is unclear.

It is worth noting that under the terms of Ratcliffe’s agreement to invest £1.25bn into the club in 2024, the Glazers can force him to sell their part if they receive an offer from a third party they want to accept.

In addition, the club hopes to build a new 100,000-seat stadium as part of the 370-acre Trafford regeneration project, which relies on support from local and national politicians.

In January, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Trafford Council leader Tom Ross both welcomed a new development company aiming to deliver multi-billion pound plans.

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Three weeks later, however, the two issued a statement condemning Ratcliffe’s remarks. The same goes for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, both of whom have previously expressed support for the rebuilding project.

While local officials have vowed not to use taxpayer money for the new stadium itself, public funding is being sought for surrounding infrastructure, including relocating the adjacent freight rail terminal to St. Helens.

It’s unclear whether Ratcliffe’s comments will make ongoing negotiations more challenging, but they come at an important time.

United hope those involved will focus on the 15,000 new homes, 48,000 new local jobs and billions of pounds of economic value the project is said to deliver.

“This is a global club… an apology is the first step”

Ratcliffe’s relationship with many United fans also appears to have been damaged.

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Ghulam Haydar of the Manchester United Muslim Supporters Club (MUMSC) told BBC Sport his apology was a “first step” but said he hoped the 73-year-old would agree to a meeting to provide some reassurance.

“This is a global club…what is he going to do to really assure us that this club is a welcoming space for people of colour, people from immigrant backgrounds?” he asked.

MUMSC said it believed Ratcliffe’s apology did not “adequately address the seriousness” of what was said.

“Expressing regret for causing offense is not the same as acknowledging the wider impact of the words used. Leadership requires accountability and an openness to debate.”

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Kick It Out, which works to combat racism, sexism and homophobia in football, said overall reports of discrimination were rising again after hitting a record high last season. The organization told BBC Sport it had received a number of complaints about Ratcliffe’s comments.

Ratcliffe was hit by a supporter group just two weeks ago over the way Ineos has managed the club since taking over football operations, after cutting staff and raising ticket prices.

It will be interesting to see what kind of reception Ratcliffe receives the next time he visits Old Trafford.

Uncertainty also surrounds the impact this could have on manager Michael Carrick – who will face questions about the issue for the first time when he addresses the media this week – and United’s multinational squad and staff.

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Despite United’s recent uptick in form since the former midfielder took over, these are challenging times for Ratcliffe and the petrochemicals company Ineos he founded and leads.

Last week, he warned that “the current situation in the European chemical industry will be unviable without immediate intervention”.

These concerns are the reason Ratcliffe is attending an industry summit in Antwerp. These were things he apparently wanted to talk about in an interview that ended up putting him at the center of a fierce political storm.

It’s a controversy that’s unlikely to die down anytime soon, and the true impact is unclear.