Manchester United co-owner faces backlash over anti-immigration remarks

Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United and founder of the Ineos chemical manufacturing group, faced widespread criticism Friday after making anti-immigration remarks earlier in the week.

On Wednesday, Ratcliffe stated that England has been "colonised by immigrants." The comments prompted immediate backlash from multiple quarters, including the UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who publicly disapproved of the remarks.

A social movement called "Everybody Hates Elon" protested Friday outside Old Trafford stadium with a billboard that read: "Immigrants have done more for this city than billionaires who don't pay taxes ever will." The protest targeted Ratcliffe's position controlling the club's football operations.

Manchester United supporter groups and ordinary fans also spoke out against the co-owner's comments. Ratcliffe himself resides in Monaco, where he lives for tax reasons, making him an immigrant to that jurisdiction.

On Friday, Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, made a fresh appeal in favor of welcoming immigrants during a press conference ahead of his team's FA Cup fourth-round match against Salford City. "The majority of people flee their countries because of the problems they face, not because they want to leave," Guardiola said. "The more we embrace other cultures, truly embrace them, the better our society will be."

When asked about Ratcliffe's statements, Guardiola declined to comment directly. "I won't comment on what Sir Jim Ratcliffe said because, after that, he said exactly what he wanted to say," the Spanish manager stated.

Ratcliffe later expressed regret over his "choice of words," though he did not address the substance of his original remarks.

Manchester United issued a statement in response to the controversy, though details of the club's position were not fully provided in available reports.