Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Manchester United
It's been a dismal start to the new season for Manchester United on the pitch and Jim Ratcliffe is creating controversy off of it with comments about the state of the United Kingdom.
Ratcliffe received huge backlash this past week after he claimed that the UK is 'on the slide' and that 'it's quite difficult to see how we arrest it'. The British billionaire, who lives in Monaco where he isn't required to pay tax, insisted politicians aren't 'tough enough to deal with the immigration problem'.
This isn't the first time United's co-owner has commented on UK immigration and his views haven't gone down well with a large section of the club's fanbase. A Muslim fan group released a statement in response to his recent interview with the BBC and stated that they have 'no confidence' in the current ownership.
'I Cannot Accept' - Eric Cantona Makes Ratcliffe Claim
Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona
Ratcliffe secured a deal to buy a 27.7 percent stake in Manchester United back in February 2024. This handed sporting operations to his INEOS, relieving the already under-fire Glazer family from handling any football-related decisions.
The British businessman used Trawlers Limited, a special-purpose company, to purchase the minority stake in the club. This was a reference to Eric Cantona's famous speech after he kung-fu kicked a Crystal Palace fan back in March 1995.
Cantona is recognised as one of the greatest players in the Red Devils' history and one of the most important figures in the Premier League's evolution. The Frenchman starred under Alex Ferguson during a trophy-laden career at Old Trafford.
If Ratcliffe were in power when Cantona decided to leave Leeds United in November 1992, he claims he wouldn't have joined. Speaking to Pete Boyle on TikTok, a well-known fan of the club, he said:
"No. Of course not [he wouldn't have signed]. You know what I think about all of this, with this kind of politics. And I cannot understand that someone like this can say something like this when he's one of the owners of the club."
Cantona explained: "Football is a very popular sport. Football is made - all the greatest players come from different waves of immigration. Everywhere, in France, in England, everywhere."
The former France striker pointed out how some of the best to represent his country have come from immigration: "In France for instance, the greatest players in France, they all come from different waves of immigration. I made a documentary on that, French Football: An Immigrant History. Raymond Kopa, in the fifties, was the son of Polish immigrants who came to France, worked in France, and worked hard in France."
He added: "And then the Italians, Italians like Platini. And then Spanish, like me, my mother came from Spanish refugees. I cannot accept this kind of thing."
Cantona isn't the only one to speak out against Ratcliffe, as fan groups and even British Prime Minister Andy Burnham have rejected his claims. Burnham had previously said that Ratcliffe's comments "go against everything for which Manchester has traditionally stood".
Ratcliffe has stirred up more controversy at a time when the mood at Old Trafford is at a major low. His club have started the season disappointingly, losing two and winning one of their opening five league games, and fans had already taken issue with his recruitment staff's lack of transfer activity in the summer.
Ratcliffe Named Cantona His Favourite United Player
Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Sir Jim Ratcliffe
If there's one past or present United player whom Ratcliffe wouldn't want to upset it may well be Cantona. That's because the 73-year-old has previously spoken of his admiration for the Red Devils legend.
Ahead of completing his purchase of a stake in the club he supported growing up, Ratcliffe named the Frenchman his favourite player. He also listed Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes before stating (via Manchester Evening News): "Eric [Cantona], probably."
gary lineker
gary lineker
Cantona spent five seasons at Old Trafford, scoring 82 goals in 185 appearances to fire United to four Premier League titles. Dubbed 'King Eric', his opinion holds weight with the club's fanbase who are protesting against Ratcliffe and the Glazers.