Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is no stranger to making headlines, and his unapologetic and outspoken personality has often sparked controversy
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is something of a divisive figure(Image: PA Wire)
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe has rarely been short of an opinion since becoming a minority owner of Manchester United. The British billionaire, who took control of the club's football operations in 2024, has overseen a significant overhaul at Old Trafford, changing the way United are run, reshaping their recruitment strategy and cutting costs across the club.
Some of Ratcliffe's decisions and comments have been well received. Others have proved considerably more divisive. This week, Gary Lineker offered a scathing assessment of the 73-year-old, branding him an "unpleasant human being" and his running of the club "a shambles."
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, the former England striker said: "I look at Man United and I see problems coming down from the top. I must congratulate the Glazers on finding someone even worse than them... Jim Ratcliffe. I don't think he's a particularly pleasant human being and it's a bit of a shambles of a football club the way it's being run at the moment."
Lineker's sharp rebuke comes after months of unfiltered comments from the INEOS chief. From controversial political commentary to ruthless internal directives at Old Trafford, Ratcliffe has built a track record of polarising public opinion. Here, we're looking at seven of his most divisive statements.
Claiming the UK has been 'colonised by immigrants'
In one of his most politically explosive interviews to date, Ratcliffe ignited widespread outrage with his comments regarding British immigration and the economy. He targeted the welfare state and border control in a single sweeping declaration.
"You can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. I mean, the UK is being colonised. It's costing too much money... The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn't it?" he said back in February.
The comments prompted immediate backlash from political figures and human rights groups, who condemned the language as inflammatory. Critics argued that such rhetoric was inappropriate for one of Britain's highest-profile business leaders, while supporters claimed he was merely voicing frustration over national economic and immigration policies.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Ratcliffe has never been one to beat around the bush(Image: Bo Amstrup/EPA/Shutterstock)
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Declaring the UK is 'on the slide' after 'greatest empire'
Reflecting on Britain's historical standing on the global stage just last week, Ratcliffe offered a grim assessment of the nation's current trajectory, comparing modern economic woes with past imperial power.
"We had the greatest empire in the world. We were a great people. We won two world wars... But unfortunately, at the moment, I think the UK is on the slide," he said.
His comments prompted criticism, with some interpreting his remarks as a reference to immigration and broader concerns about the direction of the country. Manchester United's Muslim supporters' Club (MUMSC) called for Ratcliffe to step down after branding his comments "completely unacceptable".
Slamming Britain's 'green eye' envy towards wealth
Ratcliffe has frequently expressed his frustration with the UK tax system and what he perceives as a national hostility toward success. Having moved his official tax residence to Monaco in 2020, the billionaire argued that the British public's attitude toward high earners is driving wealth out of the country.
"In America they applaud people who create wealth," Ratcliffe said last week. "Unfortunately the UK has got a bit of a green eye towards wealth at the moment."
He warned that unless the UK fosters a more welcoming tax environment for top earners, exceptionally wealthy individuals will continue seeking more favourable prospects abroad. The comment drew sharp criticism from those pointing out the stark cost-of-living challenges faced by ordinary working families across the country.
Ratcliffe
A few years ago, Ratcliffe was Britain's wealthiest individual(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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Labelling UK's energy policy 'insanity' and attacking politicians
Never one to hold back on Westminster, Ratcliffe took aim at the British political class and the nation's energy management, warning of dire consequences for the public if energy security is ignored.
"We need politicians who are tough enough to deal with some very difficult problems, and we know what the problems are," he said. "And we need politicians who will make decisions which are good for the country, not good for themselves and their party. And we haven't had one of those for a long time."
Turning his focus to North Sea oil and gas, he warned that a lack of strategic investment was total "insanity," claiming that low gas storage levels meant the UK could easily "run out of gas" during a severe cold snap. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero was forced to issue a formal response, reassuring the public that it remained entirely confident in the robustness of the national gas supply.
Telling Man United staff to 'seek alternative employment'
Upon taking operational control of Manchester United, Ratcliffe immediately set out to overhaul what he perceived as a lax corporate culture at Old Trafford. His first target was the club's post-pandemic flexible working policies.
In a swift email directive ordering all remote workers back to the office, Ratcliffe made his expectations clear: "If you don't like it, please seek alternative employment."
His bold approach didn't stop there. After conducting a personal tour of the club's facilities, he openly slammed the internal infrastructure, labelling the IT department "frankly a disgrace." The comments ruffled feathers internally, setting off a wave of redundancies and perk cancellations across the non-playing staff.
Ratcliffe
Ratcliffe made a series of significant, brutal changes when he took over at Man Utd(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Branding Man United's past recruitment 'dumb money'
Long before he acquired his minority stake in Manchester United, Ratcliffe - a boyhood Red Devils fan - was openly critical of how the Glazer family managed football operations, famously picking apart their transfer market blunders.
"They haven't got the manager selection right, haven't bought well. They have been the dumb money, which you see with players like Fred," Ratcliffe said in 2019, adding that INEOS "never wants to be the dumb money in town, never, never."
While many fans agreed with his assessment of past transfer failings, the brutal public evaluation raised eyebrows, particularly when he joined the club a few years later.
Claiming net zero taxes are 'killing manufacturing'
As the founder of chemical titan INEOS, Ratcliffe has consistently fought against heavy green taxation, claiming that current Net Zero targets are actively sabotaging British industry without actually helping the environment.
"A tax designed to reduce emissions is, in practice, killing manufacturing, making the UK more dependent on imports and increasing emissions. Quite simply, businesses can't afford it," he said in 2025.
Ratcliffe contended that high carbon taxes merely push heavy manufacturing abroad to countries with weaker environmental standards, punishing domestic producers. Environmental campaigners, however, accused him of putting corporate profit margins ahead of essential climate goals.
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