British billionaire and Manchester United co-owner Ratcliffe sparked controversy with his remarks on immigration during a media interview on Wednesday, October 11. According to Ming Pao, Ratcliffe described immigrants as 'colonizing' the UK and attributed the country's economic challenges to the erosion of the welfare system and the influx of immigrants. His comments prompted strong reactions from both the political and sports communities in the UK.
Prime Minister Sunak criticized Ratcliffe's statements as 'offensive and incorrect,' urging him to apologize and calling on business leaders to be accountable for their words and actions. Manchester Mayor Burnham also condemned the remarks as 'inflammatory' and inaccurate, demanding a retraction. Several fan groups expressed their disapproval, stating that the comments contradicted the values of the football club.
In response to the mounting public pressure, Ratcliffe issued an apology on Thursday for his choice of words.