Sir Jim Ratcliffe was reportedly booed by Manchester United employees at a Europa League final watch-along event organised for staff who did not travel to Bilbao. The controversial co-owner and INEOS CEO appeared on screen during the trophy presentation.
Staff are said to have congregated at the plush Manchester warehouse venue Diecast to watch the match. Reports claim that the mood afterwards was ‘very sombre’, with individuals aware that further redundancies could be made due to the club’s lack of European football next season. Earlier this season, CEO Omar Berrada is reported to have told staff that the second round of redundancies aimed at cutting costs was based on the assumption that United would qualify for the Europa League for the next four seasons.
Defeat against Tottenham means United will not play in any UEFA competition next term and that will carry significant financial repercussions. The Athletic reports that there was ‘gallows humour’ at the staff party about the European showdown being a ‘death knell’.
Ratcliffe and Avram Glazer appeared during the trophy ceremony. Staff are said to have booed their appearance on-screen, underlining the discontent among employees over the raft of controversial redundancies.
Around 450 staff have lost their jobs over the past two years, cutting the workforce by over 30 per cent. The latest round of redundancies saw 200 people, including individuals who have served for decades, leave the Premier League club in February.