Manchester United has been in brilliant form since Michael Carrick took over in January and is unbeaten under the new manager. However, they were in the news for a different reason last month, after comments from co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Manchester United Fans Respond to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Comments
The English businessman had heat on him from fans worldwide, especially those from the United Kingdom, after he claimed that the country had been colonised by immigrants. He added that the country’s lack of development was due to the government spending too much on immigrants.
In comments to Sky News, Ratcliffe said, “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?”
Manchester United fan groups were quick to issue statements after the comment, but the fans in the stadium took their time preparing the banners. Ahead of their win over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday, March 1, they unveiled a banner that read, “MUFC proudly colonised by immigrants”.
The other banners featured photos of their prominent foreign players, including Eric Cantona, Patrice Evra, Park Ji-sung, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Amad Diallo. The fans were sending a clear message to Ratcliffe, reminding him of the importance of players from other countries in the club’s history.
The co-owner issued an apology last month following widespread criticism. However, he claimed that his words were wrong and misinterpreted, instead of apologizing for his thoughts and said, “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.”
Manchester United also issued a statement last month, saying they were proud of their diverse group of players, staff, and fans. They added that the club was a sign of unity and they would continue their approach of representing their worldwide fanbase at every chance.
The off-field issues did not affect the players on the pitch, as they continued their unbeaten run in the Premier League. The Red Devils have beaten Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham, Tottenham, Everton, and Crystal Palace since Carrick took over in mid-January. They have dropped points just once so far, a 1-1 draw at West Ham United.
