Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe hit a nerve by saying UK is being 'colonised by immigrants' with rugby captain Maro Itoje joining the pile-on, while others defend his right to speak his mind
21:26, 13 Feb 2026Updated 21:30, 13 Feb 2026
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on December 08, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England
View 4 Images
Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe triggered a wave of fury by saying the UK is being colonised by immigrants, with even the Prime Minister demanding an apology(Image: Getty Images)
The media storm over Jim Ratcliffe's comments on immigration is rumbling on, with Maro Itoje, captain of the England rugby team, now also blasting the UK's seventh-richest person.
In an interview with Sky News on Wednesday, Manchester United's co-owner said: “You can’t afford … you can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. The UK is being colonised by immigrants, really, isn’t it?”
The inflammatory use of the word 'colonialism' and Ratcliffe's use of inaccurate facts has been met with disdain from public figures, with a wave of backlash led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Maro Itoje, captain of the England rugby team, described Ratcliffe's claim as “ridiculous”.
Jim Ratcliffe
View 4 Images
Sports stars and pundits continue to respond to Ratcliffe's explosive comment that the UK is being 'colonised' be immigrants(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“Obviously I don’t condone the language he used,” Itoje added. "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.”
Rage at Ratcliffe's words included a banner at Old Trafford claiming: “Immigrants have done more for this city than billionaire tax dodgers ever will.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola commented that "all around the world the problem that we have [is that] we treat immigrants or people who come from other countries as the problem that our countries have, and it is a big problem as it not their fault."
The Prime Minister even stepped in to brand the businessman's remarks "offensive and wrong". He called for him to apologise and described the UK as a "proud, tolerant and diverse country".
A general view of a billboard poster aimed at Manchester United Co-Owner Jim Ratcliffe is seen outside the stadium stating, 'Immigrants Have done More For This City Than Billionaire Tax Dodgers Ever Will' at Old Trafford on February 13, 2026 in Manchester, England
View 4 Images
Ratcliffe's relocation to Monaco inspired this response to his words at Old Trafford from the group 'Everyone Hates Elon'(Image: Getty Images)
A government spokesman is now claiming the unpopular premier forced the club owner to retract: "The Prime Minister asked for an apology, and one's been issued."
But the fury over petrochemical boss's interview on Wednesday hints that his views struck a chord with many. While condemning the use of the word "colonised", Tory shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said immigration numbers were "too high" and the topic was "of great concern to millions of people" in the UK.
Others picked holes in the business whiz's numbers. While Ratcliffe said the UK population has skyrocketed 12 million since 2020, the surge is only 2.7 million, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Maro Itoje, British and Irish Lions captain
View 4 Images
Rugby caption Maro Itoje was among the voices to blast Ratcliffe's comments as 'ridiculous' (Image: PA Wire)
Despite Starmer's victory lap, Ratcliffe's apology on Thursday wasn't full-hearted. “I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe,” he said. But he added that it was important to raise the issue of controlled immigration.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the UK has "undergone unprecedented mass immigration that has changed the character of many areas in our country". Former Prime Minister Liz Truss simply said: "Ratcliffe is right."
Article continues below
Sports pundit Simon Jordan argued that, despite the businessman's dodgy numbers, "Nobody has had a population explosion like we have... He is right."
Others such as the author Brendan O'Neill said that, regardless of whether he was wrong or right, a private citizen should get to share his views without "as pure an act of cancel culture as we have seen in some time".
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for ournewsletters.